Posted on 08/20/2015 10:00:59 AM PDT by thackney
Lightning struck an electrical transformer at the Valero refinery in Texas City Thursday morning, causing a fire.
Officials with Texas City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) told Houston's ABC affiliate Channel 13 that the lightning strike occurred just before 6:20 am CST this morning. Firefighters on the scene told local media that there is currently oil burning inside of a container at the facility.
Derek Duckett, Texas City Emergency Management Coordinator, told the Houston Chronicle that firefighters can't douse the fire with water due to the potential danger from electrical shock. They are now containing the fire to the transformer and are allowing the blaze to burn itself out.
No injuries have been reported and the OEM said there is no danger to the community. However, the agency is requesting that all non-essential personnel avoid the area around the Valero facility until further notice. The National Weather Service says thunderstorms could linger through Friday in the Houston area.
The Texas City Emergency Management team released the following statement Thursday morning:
"Lightning struck an electrical transformer at the Valero Texas City Refinery and it is currently on fire. A black smoke plume can be seen from the burning transformer oil. Fire and power company personnel are on scene. There is currently no danger to the public, but we ask that all non-essential personnel avoid the area around the Valero Refinery on south loop 197. We will advise if further action on your part is needed. Thank you."
Here's an overview of the Texas City refinery from Valero's website:
The Valero Texas City Refinery is located on the Texas City Ship Channel, approximately 40 miles southeast of Houston. With several recent upgrading projects, the refinery provides significant feedstock flexibility and product diversity to Valero's Gulf Coast operations. The plant dates to 1908, originally built to process 1,500 barrels per day of Oklahoma crude oil. The refinery has gone through continuous upgrades and expansions since then, including major upgrades from 1955 to 1970 when the total throughput of the refinery was increased from 40,000 to 130,000 barrels per day. In 1996, gas oil hydrotreater and residual oil solvent extraction units were commissioned along with significant revamps to the fluid catalytic cracking unit and the No. 3 crude unit. Since acquiring the refinery in 1997, Valero has invested more than $750 million in expansions and upgrades at Texas City. Most recently, the plant completed a major expansion consisting of a new delayed coker and a gasoline desulfurization unit. These expansions and upgrades give the facility a great deal of feedstock flexibility, resulting in a higher gross margin than a conventional refinery. The new units allow the crude units to run lower-value, heavier-gravity crude feedstocks to produce a large slate of low-sulfur, clean fuels.
Looks like gas is going up in the south now too.
Well, without 700 tons of cyanide lying around, its not that interesting [/jk]
Well with Whiting being down in Indiana, looks like we may have a perfect storm.
They’re STILL not saying what caused the outage at Whiting which leads to sabotage or terrorism suspicions.
They have been playing this “outage” game in Whiting for the past 5 years it seems. Always seems to be right when the summer demand for reformulated fuel peaks...
Oh poop...
What a coincidence. Every time oil prices go down, refineries blow up all over the place.
Yeah, if I had a refinery when oil prices are low and gasoline margins were high and making me the most pennies per gallon, I would blow it up to make sure my competition made more money while I lost millions....
"This is Ellis Wyatt. I'm gone. Don't try to find me. You won't. I am on strike."
Derek Duckett?............................
Do you live in Galveston County?
No, I live in Fort Bend County and work in Mont Belvieu these days.
Crystal Beach had lightning light up an oil tanks as well this morning.
Wow! That’s a pretty hefty drive for you. And right smack through Houston, I’d imagine, unless you have a secret route.
Yes, I’ve been following both stories since I live in Galveston County. Both situations are under control, PTL.
Well, if they have an emergency they can just Duckett.......................
Yeah: meh.
Call me when cyanide foam is coming out of the sewers and not before that!
Yes plus 50 miles one way. I’ve learned to check traffic maps since I have some choices before I head out.
Sometimes it isn’t worth going home until late.
Yea because everybody knows less refinery production = lower prices/less profit.
In the west Houston area....actually witnessed lightning striking a (neighboring) tree, yesterday. Nothing but a huge pink and blue cloud. The tree has a line out, down the side of it, to the base. Splintered pieces went out about 30’, all around.
If your refinery is not running, it is your competition making the profits while you spend money on repairs.
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