Fire started at about 5 this morning with explosions. Seems to be under control now and no evacuations from the area were necesary. A refueling building is where it started. Something about crackers mentioned as the cause, didn't catch it all. Wonder if this is gonna affect the prices and supply more for both the Indianopolis and Chicago area as this is where alot of the gas used in these ares comes from.

Kath

-- Kath (vipper5555@aol.com), March 01, 2000

Answers

Opps... That should have read FIRE........ Sloppy typing and no proofing, sorry.

Kath

-- Kath (Vipper5555@aol.com), March 01, 2000.

An OPIS Alert says that the cause is still unknown, there were no reports of injuries, and the unit is still operating. So sounds unlikely to affect the local supply.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), March 01, 2000.

Ok, now there's a further OPIS update that says it involved the catfeed hydrotreater, which is now down. (Originally it was reported as the FCC Unit.) The hydrotreater was due for planned maintenance soon, so BP "does not expect a big impact" as a result of the fire. Whatever.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), March 01, 2000.

I once worked there, and have E-mailed someone who still does. Of course I didn't ask if this will affect the prices and supply. My first concern was/is for the welfare of the employees working there. If further conversations include affects on prices, I'll let you know.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.com), March 01, 2000.

Refinery Update: BP Amoco Extinguishes Fire at Whiting Refinery

Princeton, New Jersey, March 1 (Bloomberg Energy)-- The following refinery is reported to be undergoing unplanned maintenance. The information has not been confirmed by the company.

Company: BP Amoco PLC

Location: Whiting, Indiana

Unit Type: Gasoline Desulfurization Unit

Refinery Capacity: 410,000 barrels a day

Event: A fire occurred at a desulfurization unit this morning.

Traders said the fire has been extinguished.

Source: Traders

Company Confirmation: No

http://quote.bloomberg.com/news2.cgi?T=energy_refout.ht&s=79023137

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), March 01, 2000.

First response from my E-mail [leaving out salutations and other non- related topics]:

There was a fire on the Cat Feed Hydrotreating Unit. No one was injured.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.thingee), March 01, 2000.

From yet another OPIS Alert...

"...This morning the Midwest markets were greeted by a fire at BP Amoco's 425,000 b/d Whiting, Ind. refinery, and that's causing strong prices on all products. ... Today BP Amoco reported that a fire broke out at Whiting and was contained to a hydrotreater. But several spot sources tell OPIS that they believe the damage is a bit more severe than what's being publicly reported."

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), March 01, 2000.

And from today's OPIS Alert...the catfeed hydrotreater could be down for repairs for 3-5 weeks as a result of yesterday morning's fire.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), March 02, 2000.

How will the length of time being down affect gas ? Any ideas. I will ask spouse to see what he can find out. He's pretty good at that kind of thing.

-- Moore dinty Moore (dac@ccrtc.com), March 04, 2000.