Navajo refinery FCC unit down for repair

May 19, 2008
The Navajo Refinery in Artesia, NM, is operating at reduced rates because the FCC unit has been shut down for repairs.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 19 -- The Navajo Refinery in Artesia, NM, is operating at reduced rates because the FCC unit has been shut down for repairs.

Holly Corp., the owner, said crude charge of the 85,000-b/d refinery has been cut by 55,000 b/d while repairs are under way.

An instrument control malfunction required shutdown of the FCC unit on May 7. Catalyst circulation problems during restart forced another shutdown on May 16. Holly expects repairs to require several days.

The unit has reported capacity of 18,500 b/cd (OGJ, Dec. 24, 2007, p. 50).

Holly expects average output for all of May to be down by 13,000-18,000 b/d of gasoline and 3,000-5,000 b/d of diesel.