Faulty valve allows off-spec fuel delivery

Irving Oil said a faulty automated-valve caused it to deliver an unspecified amount of off-specification gasoline from its 250,000-b/cd refinery at St. John, NB.

Aug. 16, 2010

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 16 -- Irving Oil said a faulty automated-valve caused it to deliver an unspecified amount of off-specification gasoline from its 250,000-b/cd refinery at St. John, NB.

Mark Sherman, general manger of the refinery, said the malfunction at a truck-loading bay caused 91-octane product to be shipped below that level. Testing indicated the affected gasoline had octane above the midgrade level of 89.

Irving took the bad equipment out of service and ordered an independent audit of its process and quality control systems. There were no environmental or safety problems.

The company expected to replace off-spec product at affected service stations, all in New Brunswick, within a week.