HOUSTON, March 5 - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) will begin a planned overhaul this week at its 150,000 barrel per day (bpd) Los Angeles-area refinery in Torrance, California, that will include the 100,000 bpd gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit, an Exxon spokeswoman said on Friday.
In addition to the FCC, the refinery will also overhaul the alkylation unit, a hydrotreater, two hydrogen plants, a sulfur recovery unit, the NAFTA pre-treater and the unsaturated gas plant at the refinery during the overhaul, said Exxon's Aarti Ramachandran.
The work is expected to last "a few weeks," Ramachandran said. The refinery has stockpiled supplies to meet its contractual obligations.
Exxon's overhaul has been expected for several months, according to sources familiar with refinery operations.
News on Friday that the overhaul had started did not affect wholesale prices in the Los Angeles market because the work was anticipated, traders said.
Another reason for the market's reaction is the overabundance of gasoline in regional inventory. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said West Coast stockpiles of gasoline climbed by 800,000 barrels to 33.1 million barrels.
At least two other refinery overhauls are expected on the West Coast in March as refiners prepare for the summer driving season.
In addition to the FCC, the refinery will also overhaul the alkylation unit, a hydrotreater, two hydrogen plants, a sulfur recovery unit, the NAFTA pre-treater and the unsaturated gas plant at the refinery during the overhaul, said Exxon's Aarti Ramachandran.
The work is expected to last "a few weeks," Ramachandran said. The refinery has stockpiled supplies to meet its contractual obligations.
Exxon's overhaul has been expected for several months, according to sources familiar with refinery operations.
News on Friday that the overhaul had started did not affect wholesale prices in the Los Angeles market because the work was anticipated, traders said.
Another reason for the market's reaction is the overabundance of gasoline in regional inventory. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said West Coast stockpiles of gasoline climbed by 800,000 barrels to 33.1 million barrels.
At least two other refinery overhauls are expected on the West Coast in March as refiners prepare for the summer driving season.
