Valero Energy reports process unit upset and flaring at Port Arthur refinery

11 articles · Updated · MarketWatch · Apr 28

The incident occurred at the 424,000 b/d Port Arthur, Texas, refinery’s saturated gas recovery unit, prompting nearly two hours of flaring to minimize contaminant emissions, according to a TCEQ filing.
Valero personnel stabilized the unit and halted flaring after making process adjustments. The refinery is among the top 10 U.S. facilities by crude distillation capacity.
Separately, Valero’s McKee refinery in Texas conducted planned maintenance, and Phillips 66’s Wood River refinery in Illinois reported a process upset with ongoing sulfur dioxide release.

After a major 2026 blast and another fire, is Valero’s Port Arthur refinery facing a systemic safety crisis?

Could repeated disruptions at this key Gulf Coast refinery threaten the stability of US fuel supplies?

Are America's aging oil refineries becoming too old and unreliable to operate safely near populated areas?

What is the financial toll of constant refinery upsets on major energy companies and their investors?

Why does Texas's environmental agency appear unable to curb repeat pollution from major industrial facilities?

What are the true health risks for communities living near frequently flaring US oil refineries?