ExxonMobil confirms power restored to Beaumont refinery

New York (Platts)--5Oct2005

ExxonMobil Wednesday said its refinery in Baytown, Texas -- the largest
in the US -- "has resumed normal operations." The company did not provide
details on output at the 557,000 b/d facility.
     The company also confirmed that power had been restored to its 349,000
b/d refinery in Beaumont, Texas. The company said the restoration of power "is
facilitating the completion of detailed unit assessments and repairs
throughout the refinery." ExxonMobil did not provide a tentative re-start
schedule for the refinery, but said that, "when repairs are complete, we will
implement the process for sequenced start-up of the refinery."
     On the upstream production, ExxonMobil put the current Gulf of Mexico
shut-ins resulting from both hurricanes Katrina and Rita at about 50,000 b/d
of liquids and 545,000 Mcf/d of natural gas. Of that total, about 20,000 b/d
is associated with Rita, and 300,000 Mcf/d is associated with Katrina, the
company said.
     ExxonMobil said its crews have returned to the offshore facilities, and
that more detailed assessments were ongoing, to "determine the integrity and
operability of our facilities, conduct necessary repairs, and bring production
back online as quickly as possible."
     The company said damage to most of its facilities from Rita "has been
limited," and that production at several offshore and onshore facilities along
the Gulf Coast has restarted. It provided no further details.
Robert DiNardo, robert_dinardo@platts.com

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