Motiva considers expanding Texas refinery

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, May 8 -- Motiva Enterprises LLC is considering more than doubling capacity of its 285,000-b/cd Port Arthur, Tex., refinery.

Motiva was known to be considering addition of a total of 100,000-325,000 b/d of capacity to its three US refineries (OGJ, Mar. 13, 2006, p. 52).

At the end of April it said a 325,000-b/d expansion of the Port Arthur refinery appears to be "the best, most logical choice." The project would make the refinery the largest in the US.

Pending regulatory approvals, Motiva would start final engineering work later this year, begin construction in 2007, and start up the expanded capacity in 2010.