Slew of Flaring Incidents Reported at Los Angeles Refineries

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) recently released several regulatory filings detailing multiple flaring incidents at various refineries in Los Angeles.

Phillips 66 Co. Investigates Unplanned Flaring Event

Phillips 66 Co. is currently investigating an unplanned flaring event that occurred at their 147,000 b/d Los Angeles facility in the Wilmington section on Sunday. The exact cause of the incident is unknown and is currently under investigation, as stated in the SCAQMD filing.

A representative from Phillips 66 Co. confirmed that the event was part of planned maintenance activity and all necessary regulatory notifications have been made. However, specific details and the timeline of the work being performed are considered proprietary.

It's worth noting that the facility recently completed a scheduled flaring from Feb. 8 to Feb. 10 for maintenance purposes, according to previous reports.

"Emergency" Flaring Incident at PBF Energy Inc.'s Torrance Refinery

Another unexpected flaring incident occurred at PBF Energy Inc.'s Torrance refinery, with a capacity of 166,200 b/d. The SCAQMD filings reveal that the incident, which took place on Saturday, prompted the company to submit a Hazardous Materials Spill Report to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

According to the report, an unknown amount of sulfur dioxide was released into the atmosphere during the emissions from the refinery flare. The release began at 1950 hours on 2/9/24 and lasted until 0630 on 2/10/24. Although the release has been halted, it has not yet been fully contained.

These incidents highlight the importance of maintaining strict regulatory standards and implementing thorough investigations to prevent further environmental impacts. The SCAQMD will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Torrance Refining Company Reports Unplanned Flaring Incident

The Torrance Refining Company has recently submitted a notification regarding an "unplanned" flaring incident to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. This incident occurred at an Air Products-owned facility within the Torrance Refinery site. A spokesperson from PBF Energy, the parent company of Torrance Refining Company, confirmed this information.

Flaring is an essential safety measure implemented by refineries to safely combust excess gases. It forms a crucial part of the refinery's engineered safety systems.

Planned Flaring Event at Marathon Petroleum Corp.

Marathon Petroleum Corp. has informed state officials about a planned flaring event at their Los Angeles facility. This event, scheduled to begin on Monday and conclude by Feb. 19, will be carried out in the Carson section of the facility. The purpose of this flaring is to facilitate "Start-up/Shut down" work. A filing with the South Coast Air Quality Management District elaborates on the details of this event.

The Marathon company spokesperson declined to comment on their operations beyond official filings but expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

Market Update for Los Angeles CARBOB

In terms of the spot market level, Los Angeles CARBOB is currently trading at a 29ct premium to NYMEX March RBOB futures. This represents no change from Friday's average. As of 11:35 a.m. ET, there have been no reported bids or offers in the market. However, the product has benefited from gains in futures and has increased by 0.36ct, currently trading at $2.6331/gal.