IIR Top Refining News Today: May 13th 2020

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North America
ExxonMobil on May 11 experienced a power outage that shut down the 120,000-BBL/d FCCU, 75,000-BBL/d PTR 3 (Reformer) and 40,000-BBL/d CHD 2 (ULSD Hydrotreater) at its 350,000-BBL/d Beaumont, Texas, refinery. The company is in the process of restarting the units within 24 to 48 hours. Separately, the planned maintenance turnaround of the 240,000-BBL/d Crude B, 45,000-BBL/d Delayed Coker, SRU 2 and gas plant, which started on March 24, will be completed by the end of May, instead of being delayed to mid-June. Derates will continue until the end of May, which are caused by lack of fuel demand brought on by COVID-19.

Chevron continues with a turnaround of the lone crude, 38,000-BBL/d VDU and 24,000-BBL/d CCR 3 Reformer units at its 100,000-BBL/d Pasadena, Texas, refinery, which began April 6. Separately, other units were shut on April 12 and April 13 due to low feed, and were not part of the turnaround event. These units will not be running again until approximately the third week of June, due to a slower work schedule and lack of demand due to COVID-19.

Imperial Oil continues with a planned maintenance turnaround for the 25,000-BBL/d Fluid Coker, which started April 7, at its 120,000-BBL/d Sarnia (Ontario), Canada, refinery. Due to the limited supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has been extended to June 8, instead of the previously planned May 15.

International
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) continues with an unplanned shutdown of the 27,000-BBL/d Hydrocracker, 44,000-BBL/d Diesel Hydrotreater and 41,000-BBL/d Mild Hydrocracker at its 400,000-BBL/d Ruwais Refinery 1 (East) in Abu Dhabi, which began May 5, due to low demand as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, the 140,000-BBL/d Condensate Splitters 1 and Condensate Splitters 2 units were derated by 20% on May 1, while the 20,780-BBL/d Kerosene Hydrotreater was derated by 40% on May 5. As of now, the Hydrocracker, DHT and Mild Hydrocracker are expected to restart by May 17, while the Condensate Splitters 1 and 2 and KHT are expected to resume normal throughput by May 18.

ADNOC continues to operate its 417,000-BBL/d Ruwais Refinery 2 (West) in Abu Dhabi at approximately 60%. On April 28, ADNOC restarted the CDU block at a 40% derate, while the RFCCU block was restarted on April 17 and derated by 17% due to low demand because of COVID-19. Additionally, the CBDC block was forced to derate by 20% on April 20. As of now, all units are expected to resume full throughput by May 18.

Ecopetrol on May 9 restarted the 35,000-BBL/d FCCU (UOP 2) at its 250,000-BBL/d Barrancabermeja Refinery in Columbia, after the unit was shut down on April 11 due to COVID-19 risks among workers. The facility has increased operational run rates to 65% of normal capacity, from 45% previously. Separately, only personnel from the operations department continue to be on site; therefore, maintenance on the 41,000-BBL/d Crude U-250 unit, which kicked off on March 2, remains suspended until the situation improves.

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