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GasBuddy News Article

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Newly opened refinery expansion ruined in just days, to be closed for months

GasBuddy Blog -- Motiva, a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Aramco, recently attempted to start operations at the expanded portion of the refinery and were met with trouble. Today we learned, according to various sources as well as Reuters, that the new expansion has been virtually ruined, and may be closed for repairs for months, or even a year or more.

You'll recall that June 14 we wrote how a small fire was impacting operations at the plant, and we had mentioned corrosion as a cause. After a second fire in virtually the same spot, refinery operators knew something was amiss with the plant. Upon further investigation, and now confirmed by Motiva, the plant will be down for a significant amount of time.

The expansion...


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Submitted Jun 26, 2012 By: PD
Category: GasBuddy Official Blog > Topics Add to favorite topics   Post new topicPost New Topic
Author Topic: Newly opened refinery expansion ruined in just days, to be closed for months Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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lonniei256
Sophomore Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Jul 18, 2012 10:12:04 AM

Ok.
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jul 18, 2012 8:08:46 AM

sad
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jlf599
Veteran Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 11:53:25 AM

Even though it's not been used, my guess is they'll figure a way to figure that into causing a gas shortage somehow...
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travelling2012
Rookie Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 9:59:16 PM

fishy
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 5:34:02 PM

old nems
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 9:10:31 AM

not nice
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Timons
All-Star Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2012 5:16:09 PM

So - who (or what) will receive the blame for this fiasco?
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pilotmass
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2012 11:42:24 AM

This will cause corrosion......or so I'm told. That can't be good.
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heydano67
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jun 28, 2012 2:26:53 AM

Truly sad.
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heydano67
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jun 28, 2012 2:26:02 AM

Truly sad.
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BDogg007
Rookie Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jun 28, 2012 12:43:26 AM

this is a sad case of "a little goes a long way"
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CdnLynx
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Jun 28, 2012 12:06:06 AM

Critical parts were probably counterfeit; installed in order to make bigger profits! Corruption abounds, truth is becoming a lost art!
Critical parts maybe should have been made from titanium vice iron, as steel corrodes. Even so, steel in a new plant should not have corroded prior to start of operations.
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satrn38mpg
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 6:21:25 PM

old news >
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SignGod34
Rookie Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 4:10:30 PM

Bunch of crap
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ToriB
All-Star Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 3:07:49 PM

That's right! Another EXCUSE for robbing the public!!
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ibhenry
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 3:05:22 PM

Old news. Nothing to see here people...
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repeater1
Champion Author Topeka

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:58:57 PM

Another fine example of Quality Control being missing.
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rbrowdersr
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:57:46 PM

An excuse to raise prices?
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idigau22
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:57:41 PM

That's what they get for buying parts from CHINA!!!!!!
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fenster66
Champion Author Pittsburgh

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:55:48 PM

very unfortunate...
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kelly1016
Champion Author Victoria

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:51:26 PM

This is a problem. I wonder when gas prices will go up and this used as the excuse.
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Go_E85
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:44:00 PM

...
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BMRR
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:41:46 PM

Was BP involved?
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speedys
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:36:10 PM

Where are all those good engineers.
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Holly123
Champion Author Charlotte

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:36:01 PM

Not good ....
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edgarCA
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:35:23 PM

I am going to listen to "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys...
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FreeeBee
Veteran Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:32:19 PM

too bad, but gas prices are going down yet..
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hauler43
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:32:11 PM

Very poor design.
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bigsranch
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:32:08 PM

They were in a rush to take advantage of high prices / limited refining capacity. Oops.
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LonghornBubba
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:31:10 PM

insurance job
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garman87
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:28:30 PM

Never heard a new plant closing for a year.
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stevencr
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:28:27 PM

Not enough time to do it right the first time, but plenty of time to do it over again.
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DJRIO
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:23:54 PM

need to update
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bart_reed
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:18:42 PM

Sounds like second class engineers from a third world country.
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danreino
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:15:48 PM

Sucks to be an Arabian in Amsterdam.
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jacob5066
Champion Author College Station

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:15:12 PM

Problems continue
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Edpap
Champion Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:14:35 PM

Crap happens, especially when you hire your relatives.
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NoStrings
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:14:06 PM

ok
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MrLuigi
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:10:13 PM

obviously faulty from the get-go
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kyjlh
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:09:31 PM

OK
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:08:00 PM

Murphys law at work again! If there are concentrations of an acid or base with high temperatures (700F), confined within equipment and stainless steel piping, things will happen. Some good Hazard Analysis, Risk Assessment and Inspections needed at every step of the process?
This is Not a good thing for gas prices or Port Arthur, Texas!
Many parts to replace and lots of money to be spent for man hours worked to get this refinery working properly. The refinery was so close to being started but unknowingly so very far away.
With all the negative comments about the West Coast, with the Cherry Point, Wa. refinery fire and the high gas prices, maybe some of those Big mouths can make negative comments about Texas and this refinery.
Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost.
The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
12/22/2012
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unicornpmb
Champion Author Buffalo

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:04:08 PM

What ever I said yesterday still applies.
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manbig13
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 2:03:03 PM

humm
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RitaVespa
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:59:20 PM

Shut down for corrosion? wow
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srchr
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:59:07 PM

fire is bad
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sydb7
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:57:34 PM

Someone wants the price of gas to go up!!!
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TelsaOR
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:57:29 PM

Yesterdays news.
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byoftDad
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:56:41 PM

OOOPS!!!!!!!
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Grismer
Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:55:43 PM

Whatever it takes to do it right is taking longer than expected.
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JXQW
Champion Author Kansas City

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Message Posted: Jun 27, 2012 1:53:25 PM

terrorism?
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