Motiva restarts FCC at Port Arthur, Texas refinery, sources say

HOUSTON, April 16 (Reuters) - Motiva Enterprises MOTIV.UL restarted the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at its 626,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas refinery, people familiar with plant operations said on Wednesday.

The FCC was operating at 69,300 bpd on Wednesday, or 86% of its 81,000 bpd capacity, the sources said. The unfinished gasoline being produced met test standards.

A Motiva spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment.

The 81,000-bpd FCC was shut on January 21 for a planned overhaul that was expected to keep the unit shut for two months. This is the third attempt to restart the FCC since March 22 following completion of the overhaul, according to the sources.

Following the first restart attempt, Motiva had to replace blown mechanical seals on the unit and after the second, a compressor had to be replaced before the third restart attempt could begin, the sources said.

The 18,000-bpd alkylation unit, which was shut along with the FCC, partially restarted during the last weekend in March. It will return to full production once the FCC restarts.

The alkylation unit converts refining by-products into octane-boosting components added to unfinished gasoline.

FCCs convert gas oil into unfinished gasoline.