-OSHA is investigating Marathon Petroleum’s reporting of safety incidents at its Galveston Bay refinery — the site of a 2005 explosion that killed 15 workers. Via Reuters, the probe stems from complaints from current and former workers that Marathon has abandoned safety practices put in place by BP, which owned the refinery at the time of the deadly blast. Reuters noted that an investigation by OSHA does not mean the agency suspects wrongdoing. Marathon said it is in compliance with OSHA’s rules for categorizing workplace injuries.
-Approximately 420 gallons of oil spilled into the Mississippi River Monday after a ship became unmoored near Convent, La., and struck two other vessels. Via the Associated Press, a nine-mile stretch of the river was closed. All three ships have been secured and the cause of the incident is under investigation. No injuries have been reported.
-The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Monday urged the swift replacement or retrofitting of oil carrying rail tank cars that are currently in use. Via the Associated Press, the NTSB called for the use of ceramic thermal blankets to protect tank cars from fires and relief valves that prevent pressure from building inside cars that are near fires. The industry voluntarily imposed stricter rules for crude oil tank cars in 2011, but newer, sturdier cars have been involved in a recent spate of fiery derailments. Meanwhile, the number of tank cars carrying peaked last fall and oil train traffic fell 7% year-over-year in March, according to the Association of American Railroads.
-Enterprise Products Partners has completed a project to expand loading capacity at its Houston Ship Channel LPG export terminal to 9 million barrels per month. Enterprise said on Monday work is progressing on a new refrigeration train that will increase loading rates by 11,000 barrels per hour and is set to be complete in the fourth quarter of this year. That project will boost Enterprise’s LPG loading capacity to 16 million barrels per month.
-Renewable Energy Group may need two to four months to restore operations at its Geismar, La., renewable diesel biorefinery after a fire broke out last Thursday. Via SeeNews, the company will carry out a one-month maintenance shutdown to bring filtration and other upgrades online during the restoration period. Two employees were injured in the incident.
