BP Cherry Point refinery in Washington receives fire repair, maintenance

BP PLC said it is repairing a fire-damaged crude distillation unit at its 222,300-b/cd Cherry Point refinery at Ferndale, Wash., and also starting maintenance activities on other units at the refinery in coming weeks.

Paula Dittrick

March 1, 2012

Cause of the Feb. 17 fire remains under investigation, a BP spokesman said Mar. 1.

Maintenance had been planned for later in the year, but that work is being done now so that the refinery can have “the least amount of down time,” a spokesman said.

The work is expected to last into April.

About the Author

Paula Dittrick

Senior Staff Writer

Paula Dittrick has covered oil and gas from Houston for more than 20 years. Starting in May 2007, she developed a health, safety, and environment beat for Oil & Gas Journal. Dittrick is familiar with the industry’s financial aspects. She also monitors issues associated with carbon sequestration and renewable energy.

Dittrick joined OGJ in February 2001. Previously, she worked for Dow Jones and United Press International. She began writing about oil and gas as UPI’s West Texas bureau chief during the 1980s. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska in 1974.