NEW YORK -- Phillips Corp. was forced to buy gasoline in the New York Harbor cash trading hub Wednesday evening to cover its customers' needs after a power outage affected operations at its Bayway oil refinery in Linden, N.J.
Phillips officials last week confirmed a Reuters report that the 240,000-barrel-per-day refinery had sustained a power outage and was in “shutdown mode.” Phillips didn't say how the refinery's operations would be affected. A backup power system at the plant worked, which may have limited or stopped damage to any major units.
Phillips officials were not available for comment Thursday morning. Trading sources told Reuters the refinery, which is visible from the New Jersey Turnpike, was flaring – an indication of a problem.
If the refinery was shut, it could take two days or longer to return it to full operation, according to the report.
Phillips also shut down a catalytic cracking unit at its Los Angeles area oil refinery system last week for scheduled maintenance work expected to last about 40 days.
Phillips' Los Angeles area refinery system, acquired as part of the company's recent takeover of Tosco Corp., consists of two linked refineries in Carson and Wilmington with a combined capacity of about 130,000 barrels per day. The catalytic cracker has a capacity of about 50,000 barrels per day.
