Click on the links befow for the Fuel Team Updates on Hurricane IKE.
FUEL TEAM UPDATE, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 - 5:00 p.m.
REFINERIES AND TERMINALS:
According to the Dept of Energy, 14 refineries remain closed. Refineries are still experiencing issues with reliable power. We are expecting satellite imagery of the terminals and refineries from the National Guard shortly. Ground inspections of refineries have been positive with less damage than expected. News clips describing conditions of several refineries and terminals are the end of this report.
DEMAND AND RESPONSE: We are loading fuel where we can in the affected area and bringing in fuel from out of the area. Industry is strategically placing generators along the evacuation route and other high volume stations.
TXDOT: Interstates and major roads are beginning to be cleared of debris. For updated road closures and flooding, please visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/ and click the link to the right or directly: http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/travel/road_conditions2.htm
PORTS: The Houston Ship Channel is being remapped and marked with buoys since 90 percent of them were destroyed. In order to get the channel operational they are working with the Army Corps to dredge and clear debris. For the latest port updates visit: www.usgstormwatch.com
WAIVERS: The EPA approved the State’s request for a waiver for low-emission diesel. The letter is attached along with TCEQ's concurrence.
Texas received a waiver under a Declaration of Regional Emergency. (CFR390.23) According to the waiver:
The following Southern Region states are affected:
Eastern Region state affected:
RE-ENTRY: The re-entry letter prepared for Hurricane Gustav will be applicable for Hurricane Ike.
As a reminder:
News Reports of Refinery and Terminal Conditions
Houston Chronicle
Marathon Texas City refinery without power By Kirsten Hays September 15, 2008 – 10:30 a.m.
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/marathon_texas_city_refinery_w.html
Marathon Oil's Texas City refinery remains shut down and power has not been restored. The company says today that it has begun assessing Ike-related damage at the facility, which processes 76,000 barrels a day.
Marathon also is asking its Houston employees to update the company about their current status. Employees are asked to check in through the use of Internet or by calling 1-800-892-3418. Marathon's Houston Tower at 5555 San Felipe will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 19.
Houston Chronicle
Shell reports no major damage to platforms or drilling rills By Kristen Hays September 15, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/shell_reports_no_major_damage.html
Shell Oil Co. has finished flyovers of its Gulf of Mexico assets in Hurricane Ike's path and found no major structural damage to platforms or drilling rigs. Limited personnel redeployed to the structures found some moderate damage, which is still being evaluated.
The company will continue to send workers back to platforms to further assess damage. So far Shell has sent about 175 of its 1,400 offshore workers back to the Gulf.
The company says timelines for production ramp-ups will vary depending on damage and repair needs.
Houston Chronicle
Shell's Pasadena gasoline terminal now open September 14, 2008 - 3:15 p.m.
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/shells_pasenda_gasoline_termin.html
Shell Oil Co. says now that its Pasadena gasoline terminal is now open. The company is still running a safety review at its Beaumont terminal, which also is expected to open this afternoon.
The Houston terminal has sustained damage, which is being examined. All other Motiva terminals in Texas, with the exception of the Hearne Terminal, which is lacking power, are up and running and have adequate supply.
Houston Chronicle
ConocoPhillips reports
September 14, 2008 – 4:00 p.m.
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/conocophillips_reports.html
ConocoPhillips says its Sweeny refinery has power, but remains shut down as crews assess the extent of Ike-related damage.
Its Lake Charles, La. refinery is running at reduced rates as it continues its post-Gustav restart process. Power has been restored to ConocoPhillips' Alliance refinery in Belle Chasse, La. after it shut down for Gustav, and the plant is preparing to restart.
The company says gas stations along evacuation routes in Southeast Texas have priority for restocking, and supply is ready.
However, distribution terminals in Pasadena and near Lake Charles remain closed pending power restoration. The company's corporate offices in West Houston have power, and will be staffed with critical personnel on Monday.
Beaumont Enterprise
Valero, Motiva waiting to restart
By HEATHER NOLAN
September 14, 2008 1:51 p.m.
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/28369864.html
At least two Port Arthur refineries had completed safety assessments Sunday morning, and were waiting on officials to find out when they could restart production.
On Friday, Motiva and Valero in Port Arthur, and ExxonMobil in Beaumont had began shutting down in anticipation of Hurricane Ike.
Motiva spokeswoman Verna Rutherford said there was not much flooding in the refinery, and that employees were in the processing of assessing damage.
At Valero, spokesman Bill Day said there was some standing water still in the refinery, but people were working to get rid of it as quickly as possible.
They also were working on restoring power to the refinery, but Day said he did not know when that would happen.
He added that Valero’s refinery in Houston did not suffer any significant damage, and that power already had been restored there.
At this time, Rutherford and Day said they did not know when production could be restarted.
ExxonMobil and Total were not immediately available.
Houston Chronicle
Shell stations still mostly closed
September 14, 2008 – 3:00 p.m.
http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/shell_stations_still_mostly_cl_1.html
Shell Oil Co. is contacting its retailers and wholesalers in areas impacted by Hurricane Ike, and more than 40 percent say they are safe.
Stations in high-impact areas, such as Houston, Galveston, Beaumont and surrounding areas are still under assessment. Initial reports indicate damage is moderate, but most are closed because of power outages or availability of site personnel.
Shell is working with power providers to ensure stations along reentry routes have priority for power restoration. The company has generators and will deploy them to ensure Shell stations in strategic areas can be reopen as soon as it is safe. The company had no timeline on reopening.
As far as gasoline terminals are concerned, Shell says its Houston Terminal has sustained damage, and is being assessed further. The company's Pasadena facility had no significant damage and the company expects to reopen it this afternoon. All other Motiva terminals in Texas, with the exception of the Hearne Terminal, which is lacking power, are up and running and have adequate supply.
Marathon Oil heading to Texas City refinery http://blogs.chron.com/hurricanes/2008/09/marathon_oil_heading_to_texas.html
Marathon Oil says it is sending crews to its Texas City refinery today to evaluate damage from Hurricane Ike and begin planning for startup.
The company's corporate offices in the Marathon Oil Tower in the Galleria will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 19.
Other Marathon production operations onshore in East Texas and Louisiana and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico remain shut in as crews evaluate damage.
FUEL TEAM UPDATE, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
ALL FACILITIES:
Assessment teams are evaluating damage at all refining and distribution facilities for structure safety, water needs and electricity, etc.
We are working with utilities to get power to terminals. Several terminals in the area are close to being operational on generator power.
Before any re-entry, local and state officials will make sure that the area is safe for critical infrastructure to return and determine if roads are available for re-entry. As quickly as possible, in emergency areas, we will work with the State to help provide as much support as possible to the citizens of Texas.
DEMAND AND RESPONSE: We are loading fuel where we can in the affected area and bringing in fuel from out of the area. Industry is strategically placing generators along the evacuation route and other high volume stations. Some stations in Houston area still have electricity but most do not. We are supporting the State in its efforts to supply the Houston area and have assessment teams en route to determine damage and conditions.
REFINERIES: Thirteen refineries are shut down in Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, and Port Arthur.
WATER: Centerpoint Energy is working on the City of Houston water treatment plants in an effort to re-establish water service in Houston.
TXDOT: Interstates and major roads are beginning to be cleared of debris. For updated road closures and flooding, please visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/ and click the link to the right or directly: http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/travel/road_conditions2.htm
PORTS: The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the following Texas ports are closed to all traffic: Houston, Freeport, Galveston, Port Arthur, Beaumont, and Texas City. The following Texas ports have limited traffic: Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Port Lavaca.
WAIVERS: Texas received a waiver under a Declaration of Regional Emergency. (CFR390.23) According to the waiver:
The following Southern Region states are affected:
Eastern Region state affected:
RE-ENTRY: The re-entry letter prepared for Hurricane Gustav will be applicable for Hurricane Ike.
As a reminder:
REMINDER: Important documents, waivers and re-entry letters are available at www.txoga.org. If you can not access the documents, please contact the Fuel Desk at 512-424-2208.
Storm Update: As of 10:00 a.m. CDT Friday, Hurricane Ike was located about 195 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas. Ike is a very large Category 2 hurricane traveling west-northwestward at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend 120 miles outward from Ike's center. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 275 miles. The central pressure is now at 954 mb, or 28.17 inches and has dropped since early Friday. As a result Ike could intensify this afternoon.
A storm surge is expected for more than 100 miles northeast of landfall. East of the landfall, a storm surge from 15 to 20 feet can occur with some of the bays perhaps having a rise in water to near 25 feet.
On its current track, Ike should make landfall along the upper Texas coast late tonight or very early Saturday morning as a Category 2 or Category 3 hurricane. The landfall location will probably be in the zone from the Freeport-Lake Jackson area to Galveston, Texas.
ALL FACILITIES:
In conjunction with State all facilities are preparing for restart post-storm as quickly as possible to continue to provide fuel to Texas and the nation. Facilities follow shut down procedures to allow for re-start as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.
Preparations include generators that are staged for terminals, pipelines, and stations. For example, 25% of districts from Tyler to coastal areas into Louisiana are equipped with generators to assist with production post-storm.
Employees that are critical have been identified and prepared for re-entry.
The State has worked very hard to get all waivers needed for re-entry to supply this area.
Before any re-entry, local and state officials will make sure that the area is safe for critical infrastructure to return and determine if roads are available for re-entry. Assessment teams evaluate structure safety, water needs and electricity, etc. As quickly as possible, in emergency areas, all of our folks will work with the State to help provide as much support as possible to the citizens of Texas.
Fuel Team Operational Update: The overall report is one of a stressed system with lots of demand. Work by industry is continuing to obtain, position, and load fuel into the Texas regions likely to be impacted by Hurricane Ike. Industry has been responding to all fuel needs along evacuation routes within the large range of potential landfall locations.
DEMAND AND RESPONSE: We have confirmed to the best of our ability that no region is completely without fuel, especially along evacuation routes. Stations in SE Texas have closed to get their employees safely evacuated and secure their facilities as best as possible. We are pushing fuel along the evacuation routes toward the areas receiving evacuees.
REFINERIES: Reporting refineries are completing shutdowns in Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, and Port Arthur. A few report running at reduced capacity.
TERMINALS: It is likely that once terminals experience sustained tropical winds (39 mph), the racks will shut down loading activities until it is safe again. Terminals in Houston reporting that they were filled to capacity and are able to handle additional fueling; no peak demand yet
After Hurricane Ike passes through and all assets are operational the Truck Rack will reopen and all customers/carriers will be contacted. Racks in San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Houston are increasing supplies in readiness.
RETAIL STATIONS: Outages reported at some stations. Demand is intense in some locations and this changes as refueling occurs and new evacuation takes place.
Dynamic Messaging: TxDoT has changed their message to Hurricane Warning, avoid traffic to specific locations. The portable signs have been moved to prevent storm damage.
Evacuations: The following counties have issued Mandatory Evacuations: Galveston, Chambers, Jefferson, Newton, Jasper, Tyler and Orange.
Partial Evacuations: Southern Harris and Matagorda.
The following counties have issued voluntary evacuations: Nueces, Victoria, Brazoria, Jackson, and San Patrico.
Waivers:
EPA approved the RVP fuel waiver extension. A copy of TCEQ's concurrence letter is attached.
TXDOT issued the waiver for overweight trucks and hours of service. (See TxOGA’s website).
TCEQ: TCEQ will exercise its enforcement discretion in advance of Hurricane Ike's projected landfall for temporary vehicle fueling facilities (Stage II Vapor Recovery Requirements) to allow for fueling of vehicles from facilities other than service stations. The length of time for this enforcement discretion is through the duration of this event. Please know that TCEQ is supportive of this proposal, to allow the flexibility needed to prepare for and respond to the catastrophic threat Texas faces from Hurricane Ike.
TCEQ is granting a 1 week extension for the Title V deviation report.
The TCEQ will extend its enforcement discretion in advance of Hurricane Ike's projected landfall to the counties to be potential impacted, and from September 11, 2008 through the "duration of the event." This will include:
TCEQ will exercise its enforcement discretion in advance of Hurricane Ike's projected landfall to industry that is within an area covered by a mandatory evacuation order. The requested length of time for this enforcement discretion is from the date of the mandatory evacuation order until, through the duration of the event. This will include:
TDPS: The Texas Department of Public Safety suspended certain Private Security requirements. The waiver is attached for your use.
Truck Staging: San Antonio has offered Wolff Stadium as a staging area for fuel trucks and chemical haulers to wait out the storm. Please contact Debbie Hastings at 512-424-2208 (Fuel desk) for more details.
Ports: The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the following Texas ports are closed to all traffic:
Houston, Freeport, Galveston, Port Arthur, Beaumont, and Texas City .
The following Texas ports have limited traffic:
Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Port Lavaca.
Recovery and Re-entry: Employers report that they are activating their response teams are preparing for recovery including the pre-positioning of generators. We are working with TCEQ to obtain waivers specific to staging temporary fuel tanks for these generators.
The re-entry letter prepared for Hurricane Gustav will be applicable for Hurricane Ike.
As a reminder:
IMPORTANT:The following waivers and documents are attached for your convenience:
Please call 512-424-2208 (ask for the Fuel Team) if you have questions.
Storm Update: The National Hurricane Center models predicted the storm was most likely to hit the central Texas coast, somewhere between Corpus Christi and Freeport with the center of the cone at Port Lavaca, early Saturday as a strong Category 3 or possibly Category 4.As of 11:00 a.m. (9/10), the center of hurricane Ike was located about 225 miles west-southwest of Key West Florida and about 430 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi river.Although the center of Ike moved little over the past few hours the hurricane is generally moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph.A west-northwestward motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days...which would take Ike through the central Gulf of Mexico.
Fuel Team Operational Update: All Sectors of the fuel industry have been notified of the state's request to push fuel into the Corpus Christi and Valley areas.
REFINERIES: Refining and petrochemical facilities in the Corpus Christi area are taking safety precautions in anticipation of a Category 4 hurricane strike; some are beginning safe shutdown procedures.
DEMAND: Increased demand is being reported in the Corpus Christi area of 400% or more. Companies are working to obtain fuel to continue to respond to the increased demand.Aviation fuel has been increased into IAH.Marketers are identifying other sources for fuel after the storm.
TERMINALS: At least one terminal in Victoria has reported outages of fuel and is beginning shutdown.Two in the Valley are shut down and others in the impacted region will shut down as the storm approaches.Corpus Christi terminals are open but at least one will begin safe shutdown as early as 1800 hours today.Racks in San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Houston are increasing supplies in readiness.
Dynamic Messaging: Since Ike has entered the Gulf, TXDOT is now running messages on their dynamic message boards on the Gulf coast that a hurricane is in the Gulf and to fuel vehicles.
Evacuations:Medical and special need evacuations began at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.Voluntary evacuations have been issued for Corpus Christi, Matagorda, and Victoria areas (Jackson, Victoria, Brazoria, Nueces, and Matagorda counties).
Waivers: TXDOT issued the waiver for overweight trucks and hours of service. (Attached)
An extension to the RVP/RFG waiver was requested by the TCEQ on September 8, 2008.EPA denied the extension request at this time but will continue to monitor the situation and will take action immediately if new information warrants.They welcome additional information related to supply gaps.TCEQ and FEMA are working together with the EPA to obtain an extension.
Truck Staging:San Antonio has offered Wolff Stadium as a staging area for fuel trucks and chemical haulers to wait out the storm.Details are forthcoming.
Ports:Port Lavaca is evaluating the need to close.Port of Corpus Christi is open today and will be evaluating closure tomorrow.Other ports appear to be operational. This is subject to change as the storm approaches.
Recovery and Re-entry: Employers report that they are activating their response teams and preparing for recovery including the pre-positioning of generators.We are working with TCEQ to obtain waivers specific to staging temporary fuel tanks for these generators.
The re-entry letter prepared for Hurricane Gustav will be applicable for Hurricane Ike.The letter and motor carrier waiver is attached.As a reminder:
FUEL TEAM UPDATE, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
OVERALL: Search and rescue and restoring power continue to be dual priorities in the affected area. Without power, generators are powering many critical operations, significantly increasing demand on fuel. Many are relying on generators until power is restored including individuals, hospitals, nursing homes, gas stations, and emergency operations. Texans are being encouraged to only purchase the amount of fuel they need. Any rationing of fuel that is occurring is a store-by-store decision. Fuel is flowing into the region with trucks and fuel supplies being diverted from outside the region into Houston.
RETAIL GAS STATIONS: Roughly 40% of the retail gas stations in Houston are operational, mostly running on generator power. We are loading fuel in the affected area and bringing in fuel and trucks from out of the area. Industry is strategically placing generators along the evacuation route and other high volume stations where electricity has not been restored.
REFINERIES AND TERMINALS: According to the Dept of Energy, two refineries have entered restart process – Deer Park and ConocoPhillips Sweeny. Twelve refineries in Texas and Louisiana remain shut down due to Hurricane Ike. These refineries are located in Lake Charles/Port Arthur and Houston/Texas City, and have a total operable capacity of 3.0 million b/d. (The situation report is attached.)
TXDOT: Interstates and major roads are being cleared of debris. For updated road closures and flooding, please visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/ and click the link to the right or directly: http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/travel/road_conditions2.htm
PORTS: The Houston Ship Channel is open with the following restrictions: Open to all traffic with 12-foot draft or less. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is open with the following restrictions: Houston Ship Channel to Port Arthur Bridge closed. Salvage efforts are underway. All other waterway restrictions in the Houston-Galveston area remain in place until ongoing post-hurricane assessments for aids to navigation, pollution and navigational hazards are completed. For the latest port updates visit: www.usgstormwatch.com
Additional WAIVERS:
TCEQ: STEERS - Due to the impact of Hurricane Ike, issues such as recordkeeping and reporting obligations and relevant permit terms and conditions which would otherwise be enforced, are being waived for the duration of this event in impacted areas. This includes STEERS reporting.
RE-ENTRY: The re-entry letter prepared for Hurricane Gustav will be applicable for Hurricane Ike.
As a reminder: