Petrobras Energia's San Lorenzo Refinery Back to Normal Rates after Series of Unplanned Shutdowns

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--After a series of unplanned maintenance shutdowns, especially after a strike staged by truck drivers in mid-June, Petrobras Energia's (NYSE:PZE) San Lorenzo refinery in Argentina is back online and producing at normal rates. The refinery was preparing to restart after unplanned maintenance in one of its three towers stemming from a planned turnaround in May; however, truck drivers were blocking roads that hindered the refinery's ability to transport oil. After the strike ended on June 20, the unit involved in the May maintenance turnaround was finally restarted on June 25.

The strike also led to a five-day shutdown of the 12,500-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) topping 3 unit. During this time, maintenance work was performed on the unit's heat exchangers, and the unit was back online on June 24. In order to increase the equipment life of topping 2, plant officials also decided to reduce the unit's 22,000-BBL/d processing capacity to 15,000 BBL/d. The unit was back online on July 2. Because of all of the recent shutdowns, refinery officials have decided to postpone the maintenance turnarounds planned in August for the topping 3 and vacuum 2 units until 2009.

The refinery is now processing at maximum capacity without problems.

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