Conoco’s Wood River Refinery Experiences Fire – Dow Jones

Published on 29 April 2010 by cwhornsby in Hornsby Energy Trading

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)–ConocoPhillips (COP) said an isolated fire that broke out at its Wood River refinery in Roxana, Ill., Thursday morning was safely extinguished and resulted in no injuries.

The refinery’s fire crew quickly responded to the fire that broke out at a sulfur-treatment unit early Thursday morning, said Conoco spokesman William Stephens in an email. “The refinery remains in operation with the exception of the unit experiencing the fire.” The fire did not result in any offsite impact, he added.

The refinery’s fire crew quickly responded to the fire that broke out at a sulfur-treatment unit early Thursday morning, said Conoco spokesman William Stephens in an email. “The refinery remains in operation with the exception of the unit experiencing the fire.” The fire did not result in any offsite impact, he added.

Roxana’s police and fire departments said they did not receive calls for this fire as of 9 a.m. EDT.

Roxana’s police and fire departments said they did not receive calls for this fire as of 9 a.m. EDT.

The S-Zorb unit where the blaze erupted is used to strip sulfur out of naphtha, a key gasoline component, to meet ultra low sulfur fuel specifications. Conoco licenses its S-Zorb technology to other refineries. The unit “is currently being examined,” Stephens said. He declined to comment on whether the refinery’s operations would be impacted by this incident per company policy.

The S-Zorb unit where the blaze erupted is used to strip sulfur out of naphtha, a key gasoline component, to meet ultra low sulfur fuel specifications. Conoco licenses its S-Zorb technology to other refineries. The unit “is currently being examined,” Stephens said. He declined to comment on whether the refinery’s operations would be impacted by this incident per company policy.

The 306,000-barrel-a-day Wood River refinery is the largest operated by Conoco in the U.S. It is a joint venture between the integrated oil giant and EnCana Corp. (ECA, ECA.T), according to the plant’s Web site. The refinery is currently undergoing an expansion project that will allow it to process heavy crude oil from Canada in greater volumes. Wood River currently refines oil from the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Middle East and Canada.

The 306,000-barrel-a-day Wood River refinery is the largest operated by Conoco in the U.S. It is a joint venture between the integrated oil giant and EnCana Corp. (ECA, ECA.T), according to the plant’s Web site. The refinery is currently undergoing an expansion project that will allow it to process heavy crude oil from Canada in greater volumes. Wood River currently refines oil from the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Middle East and Canada.