Released August 28, 2020 | SUGAR LAND
en
Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--No longer a hurricane, Tropical Storm Laura continues its trek across the central U.S., with at least 200 industrial plants well north of the coastal impact zone in jeopardy of losing power, experiencing flash flooding and related risks.
Power Generation
Power plants that avoided damage from the storm have begun to restart operations; more than 3,500 megawatts (MW) already have restarted as of Friday morning. This is less than half of the more than 8,000 MW that were taken offline in advance of the storm.
Oil & Gas
Offshore, 1.6 million barrels per day (BBL/d) of oil production and 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of gas production remain offline. Inspection crews for most platforms will be heading out today to access damage shortly. We see no real capacity returning online so far today.
Enterprise Products has begun restarting operations at the 85,000-BBL/d NGL Train IV train at its Mont Belvieu, Texas, NGL Fractionator Complex after idling the unit on Wednesday ahead of Laura.
Refining
Damage and inspection efforts are ongoing at two refineries, with a total crude oil processing capacity of 682,000 BBL/d, which were in the direct path of Laura in Lake Charles; early reports suggest the facilities will be down for several weeks for needed repairs. In addition, efforts are underway to restart the four refineries in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area over the weekend and the lone refinery in Houston, Texas, all of which were shuttered in preparation for the storm.
Chemical
Six ethylene units, totaling 10.6 million pounds per year of capacity, were in the immediate path of the storm and presumably will be offline for several weeks, as damage and safety assessments are completed. Six ethylene units on the Texas side of the storm's path in Beaumont and Port Arthur, which represent 6.9 million pounds per year of capacity, are being assessed for damage and could begin the restart process at some point next week, depending upon reliable power and transportation infrastructure systems being in place. A portion of BioLab Incorporated's chemical plant in Westlake, Louisiana, has suffered fire damage.
Pulp, Paper & Wood
Three very large paper mills, employing more than 1,600 people, were in the path of the storm. A pulp and paperboard mill in Mansfield, Louisiana, owned by International Paper, was in the process of restarting operations late Thursday. The level of damage to mills in Orange, Texas, and DeRidder, Louisiana, is unknown at this time.
Pharmaceutical
The pharma-bio industry in Puerto Rico was home of the largest cluster of facilities in the storm's path. No significant damage has been reported so far, although operations were temporarily suspended.
Industrial Manufacturing
Most ports in Texas and Louisiana have reopened for water traffic, although several terminals remain closed to on-land container traffic due to localized flooding and road closures. Rail systems in the affected low-lying areas remain shut down as the freight companies assess damage and begin repairs. All rail traffic remains routed away from the damaged and flooded areas until the water recedes and the lines can be repaired.
Industrial Info's team of researchers are assessing the level of damage and the short-term impact on operations, providing dynamic updates routinely via our Disaster Impact Tracker.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.
Power Generation
Power plants that avoided damage from the storm have begun to restart operations; more than 3,500 megawatts (MW) already have restarted as of Friday morning. This is less than half of the more than 8,000 MW that were taken offline in advance of the storm.
Oil & Gas
Offshore, 1.6 million barrels per day (BBL/d) of oil production and 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of gas production remain offline. Inspection crews for most platforms will be heading out today to access damage shortly. We see no real capacity returning online so far today.
Enterprise Products has begun restarting operations at the 85,000-BBL/d NGL Train IV train at its Mont Belvieu, Texas, NGL Fractionator Complex after idling the unit on Wednesday ahead of Laura.
Refining
Damage and inspection efforts are ongoing at two refineries, with a total crude oil processing capacity of 682,000 BBL/d, which were in the direct path of Laura in Lake Charles; early reports suggest the facilities will be down for several weeks for needed repairs. In addition, efforts are underway to restart the four refineries in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area over the weekend and the lone refinery in Houston, Texas, all of which were shuttered in preparation for the storm.
Chemical
Six ethylene units, totaling 10.6 million pounds per year of capacity, were in the immediate path of the storm and presumably will be offline for several weeks, as damage and safety assessments are completed. Six ethylene units on the Texas side of the storm's path in Beaumont and Port Arthur, which represent 6.9 million pounds per year of capacity, are being assessed for damage and could begin the restart process at some point next week, depending upon reliable power and transportation infrastructure systems being in place. A portion of BioLab Incorporated's chemical plant in Westlake, Louisiana, has suffered fire damage.
Pulp, Paper & Wood
Three very large paper mills, employing more than 1,600 people, were in the path of the storm. A pulp and paperboard mill in Mansfield, Louisiana, owned by International Paper, was in the process of restarting operations late Thursday. The level of damage to mills in Orange, Texas, and DeRidder, Louisiana, is unknown at this time.
Pharmaceutical
The pharma-bio industry in Puerto Rico was home of the largest cluster of facilities in the storm's path. No significant damage has been reported so far, although operations were temporarily suspended.
Industrial Manufacturing
Most ports in Texas and Louisiana have reopened for water traffic, although several terminals remain closed to on-land container traffic due to localized flooding and road closures. Rail systems in the affected low-lying areas remain shut down as the freight companies assess damage and begin repairs. All rail traffic remains routed away from the damaged and flooded areas until the water recedes and the lines can be repaired.
Industrial Info's team of researchers are assessing the level of damage and the short-term impact on operations, providing dynamic updates routinely via our Disaster Impact Tracker.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.
