Sally after Laura: USGC refineries endure two storms in 20 days

摘要

Hurricane Laura made landfall on Aug.27 as a category-four storm,causing widespread power outages along the border of the US states of Texas and Louisiana.Before all of the Gulf-Coast refineries impacted by that storm were restarted,others were shut or slowed down ahead of Hurricane Sally,which hit Alabama on Sept.16 as a category-two storm.The US DOE estimated offline capacity throughout the nation on Sept.16 totaled 1.1 MM b/d.Phillips 66 had shut down its 253.6K-b/d Alliance refinery at Belle Chasse(LA)ahead of Sally although the hurricane ended up hitting the coastline further east and did not directly affect the facility.The company's 260K-b/d Lalre Charles refinery in Westlalre(LA)was shut down ahead of Laura but was waiting for reliable electricity supply to be restored.Several months of repairs are expected to be needed after heavy winds damaged the refinery,but the work can be done while operating.Pending repairs to power transmission lines throughout the area,the refinery could be restarted by the end of the month.