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Valero Plans Work for St. Charles Refinery in 2011

Bloomberg -- Valero Energy Corp., the largest U.S. independent refiner, will spend $200 million to improve reliability at a gasoline-producing unit at its St. Charles refinery in Norco, Louisiana.

The project will reduce the frequency of required maintenance on the unit, giving the company access to a larger amount of processing capacity over the course of two years, Chief Executive Officer Bill Klesse said.

The unit, a fluid catalytic cracker, has the ability to process 100,000 barrels of crude oil a day, Klesse said after attending the National Petrochemical and Refiners’ Association annual meeting in Phoenix.


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Submitted Mar 22, 2010 By: ziyulu
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Valero Plans Work for St. Charles Refinery in 2011 Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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badbonita
Champion Author Syracuse

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 1:18:18 PM

Increased reliability. What a concept!
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cpl11787
All-Star Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 12:56:39 PM

hmm, maybe a good thing.
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janctx
Champion Author Lubbock

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 12:32:09 PM

thats a start
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Robert44
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 11:05:41 AM

Its about time for this to happen!!
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sivart
Champion Author Arkansas

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:59:12 AM

It's about time to overhaul a refinery...When will we build a new one?
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Lengas
Champion Author Gary

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:52:46 AM

Get it done now
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Dale Jr.
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:50:55 AM

So true napermike79. Let's hope they can.
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DirtDauber
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:49:57 AM

Good idea.
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cnet1
Champion Author Arizona

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:49:28 AM

bad hurricane seasone means higher prices because refineries will most likely get damaged. but wait, theyre not using these refineries now anyways, just an excuse to raise prices
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napermike79
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:47:24 AM

Hopefully they hurricane-proof the place too.
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NashGas
Champion Author Nashville

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:47:11 AM

Sounds good.
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Marty_P
Veteran Author Baton Rouge

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:46:39 AM

Great for Louisiana and the U.S.!!!
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PhilMils
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:46:37 AM

This is good.
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HawaiianGuy
Champion Author Idaho

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:44:45 AM

This'll last until the next time they decide that they're not making enough profits off of their refining operations.
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POPSAZ
All-Star Author Arizona

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:40:51 AM

More production is always good.
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ricker8
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:40:34 AM

any work is good.
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Italianman
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:40:31 AM

Good for Valero.
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VetteFan
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:39:44 AM

Work on the refinery is good news.
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spunky4443
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:37:32 AM

With all the Money that they have bled out of us, they should have no problem doing this.
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TRAIN RIDER
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:35:59 AM

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS? WHEN THEY GO DOWN THE PRICES GO UP, I KNOW THE OIL COMPANIES WANT THE PRICES UP.
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Maintroll
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:34:44 AM

This is nice, but is the consumer going to pay for it?
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Don20
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:29:55 AM

"There is a big surplus in the oil market, and the fundamentals aren't that much better than they were a few months ago," said Ben Westmore, commodities economist at National Australia Bank in Melbourne. "It's not really clear that oil prices (above $80) are really justified." ...

This news should be considered normal operating procedures, if you are in the business to make money. Unscheduled down time are expensive to any refinery..
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CatMan623
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:28:06 AM

Well, Congress is on a roll. Why don't they go ahead and take over oil exploration, production, refining, distribution and retailing....?

Now THAT'S one scary thought.......

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Wolfwings
Champion Author Delaware

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:26:28 AM

INteresting concept, but I'm not sure what it all means.
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copperhead8
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:25:50 AM

I totally agree with goalie1950.
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kyrunner
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:25:26 AM

Glad to see they are looking ahead.
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mmene
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:19:37 AM

mackconsult - that seems obvious doesn't it? Don't all companies make changes to increase ROI? You don't think that GE makes lightbulbs or Microsoft makes software for the general upliftment of the public do you?

It turns out the best way for Valero (or any refiner) to make ROI is to make the maximum product at the lowest cost. That will increase their profits while also increasing our supply and keeping prices down. Win-win. Any refiner that is making increased investments in capacity and reliability is good news for the public. It is the refiners not making investments or shutting down capacity that you need to worry about. They are the ones looking to increase margins by selling less product and that is the real long term danger. Not the ones increasing investment.
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twiper1
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:18:45 AM

Valero looking out for the little guy. SURE, thats what they want you to believe
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goodbuy
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:18:28 AM

Good for Valero.
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gasforus
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:15:09 AM

Anything to make more money.
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mackconsult
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:14:36 AM

You they figure they will make more $$$$$ based on the repair .... they are doing it for ROI not american supply capability.
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turbodog
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:12:46 AM

Glad to see investment in refining.
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BlueVanGroup
Champion Author Colorado

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:11:57 AM

This is the time to do it--during the switch from winter blends to summer blends.
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Lizzylou
Champion Author Stockton

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:10:45 AM

AGREE!! Another reason to raise prices!
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egd
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:10:20 AM

national growth of oil infrastructure is good
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goalie1950
Champion Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:07:12 AM

A worthwhile project to improve reliability and productivity of this facility. Hopefully, long term oil prices will benefit from these improvements.
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Helms
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:52 AM

surprised they didn;t use the economy as an excuse not to make the investment...when times are bad refiners typically can't justify the expense and when times are good they can't shut down for th eimprovements because they're running near or at capacity...what a gig!!
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sleepyt
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:44 AM

Long overdue
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DustyHorse
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:40 AM

Great news.
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MikLamb
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:25 AM

Good.
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tobasco
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:04:54 AM

About time.
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VTROCK
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:02:43 AM

It's nice to see someone investing in refinery capacity. It has been a tough place to make money.
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reff5577
Veteran Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:02:14 AM

IF THATS NOT ANOTHER REASON TOO JACK UP GAS PRICES THEN WHAT IS???
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PaylessKY
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:00:33 AM

Improve reliability, reduce frequency of maintenance? Well see.
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TFowler513
Champion Author Memphis

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:00:25 AM

Yet another reason to raise pump prices!!!
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Beboper
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:59:09 AM

there goes the prices again up up and away
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rasprout
Champion Author Tacoma

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:56:53 AM

Sounds like reasons to raise prices...
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jayrad1957
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:56:22 AM

Another excuse for the speculators to raise prices again.
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Doubleeez
Champion Author Connecticut

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:56:02 AM

Sounds like just normal business maintenance and production. They have to do something to justify their R & D department.
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206awd250
Champion Author Seattle

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:54:51 AM

good for them. 1 refinery wont make a difference though.
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