ConocoPhillips refinery idle after storms

[Robbien]

ROXANA, Ill. - ConocoPhillips expects its biggest refinery to remain idled into next week as crews continue scrambling to restart the site hit by storms last week, raising concerns that the shutdown might squeeze gasoline supplies in the Illinois suburbs east of St. Louis.

The Wood River refinery, out of commission since storms July 19, makes the kind of reformulated gasoline approved for St. Clair and Madison counties and parts of Jersey and Monroe counties, said David Sykuta of the Illinois/Missouri Petroleum Council, a trade group. The system is very tight, Sykuta said, with almost no tolerance for disruption.

"We've not had a problem so far because many people haven't had power," said Sykuta, the group's executive director. "Once everyone gets their electricity back on, more people will be moving around. That will create a demand for more gas."

. . .


The Wood River site can process 306,000 barrels of crude oil per day, receiving the fuel by pipeline from various places including the Gulf of Mexico, Canada and domestic sources, according to the company's Web site.

http://www.theeagle.com/stories/072606/business_20060726031.php

[Sherman A1]

1. Yes,

At one point 500K households and businesses were without power in the area. About 75K remain as of Thursday 7/27. I learned that the EPA has given a temporary waiver for the type gasoline used in the area to allow folks to get by for a bit.