Royal Dutch Shell Group .com Rotating Header Image

Motiva

Motiva Port Arthur HCU shut by fire

Motiva Port Arthur HCU shut by fire -filing, company

HOUSTON May 13 (Reuters) – A lube oil hydrocracking unit was shut on Saturday at Motiva Enterprises’ 600,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, after a fire, according to a notice filed with Texas pollution regulators.

No injuries were reported due to the fire, a Motiva spokeswoman said in a statement. The company declined to identify the unit involved.

The fire broke out in a heater check valve, according to the notice filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell chemical plant in Norco produces flare after heater unit fails

The failure of a heater unit at the Shell chemical plant in Norco on Tuesday caused a partial shutdown of the plant and a towering flare that could be spotted 25 miles away… …company officials said the plant released benzene, butadiene, carbon monoxide, ethylene, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxide, propylene, sulfur dioxide, xylene and other volatile organic carbons…

Published: Wednesday, May 09, 2012, 10:30 PM

By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune

The failure of a heater unit at the Shell chemical plant in Norco on Tuesday caused a partial shutdown of the plant and a towering flare that could be spotted 25 miles away, the state Department of Environmental Quality confirmed Wednesday. Shell Chemical shares a campus with the Motiva Enterprises oil refinery, which is a joint venture of Shell Oil Co. and Saudi Arabia Refining Inc.

The accident occurred in a “CO heater,” which is part of the chemical plant. In an accident report filed Tuesday at 7:09 p.m. with the National Response Center, Shell officials said a storm caused the heater to shut down, “which caused a shake to the steam load shed,” and resulted in the release of chemicals to the flare. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Fiery flare, smoke from Motiva Norco refinery result of accident

A file photo of the Motiva Enterprises refinery from Times-Picayune archive

Published: Wednesday, May 09, 2012, 1:10 PM     Updated: Wednesday, May 09, 2012, 1:10 PM

 Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune

A fiery flaring of chemicals from the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Norco Tuesday night, accompanied by a large plume of smoke, was the result of a heater unit failure that forced a shutdown of a portion of the refinery, the state Department of Environmental Quality confirmed today. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

With Little Fanfare, a New Effort to Prosecute Employers That Flout Safety Laws

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: In March, for example, Motiva Enterprises, an oil refining company partly owned by Shell Oil, pleaded guilty to endangering workers negligently and committing environmental crimes in Delaware. The company was ordered to pay a $10 million fine and sentenced to three years’ probation.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: With Little Fanfare, a New Effort to Prosecute Employers That Flout Safety Laws

3 May 2005

By DAVID BARSTOW and LOWELL BERGMAN

For decades, the most egregious workplace safety violations have routinely escaped prosecution, even when they led directly to deaths or grievous injuries. Safety inspectors hardly ever called in the Justice Department. Congress repeatedly declined to toughen criminal laws for workplace deaths. Employers with extensive records of safety violations often paid insignificant fines and continued to ignore basic safety rules.

Inside the Bush administration, though, a novel effort to end this pattern of leniency has begun to take root. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Port Arthur refinery becomes U.S. largest -Shell

Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:27pm EDT

By Jeffrey Kerr

(Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Saudi Aramco became co-owners of the largest U.S. refinery on Thursday when a new crude distillation unit at their joint-venture Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur, Texas, plant received oil for the first time, said Shell’s Chief Financial Officer.

The 325,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) atmospheric crude distillation unit that started processing on Thursday combines with existing crude units to give Motiva’s Port Arthur, Texas, refinery a total crude oil refining capacity of 600,000 bpd, said Shell Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry during the company’s first quarter earnings call. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Motiva Texas crude unit to create largest U.S. refinery

Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:48pm EDT

* Expansion will make Motiva Port Arthur largest U.S. refinery

* Coker to be shut for work later this month -sources

* Vacuum unit to be shut in May for overhaul -sources

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON, April 12 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises LLC’s Port Arthur refinery is on track to become the largest in the United States by September when its capacity reaches planned rates of 600,000 barrel per day (bpd) with the addition of a 325,000 bpd crude distillation unit, expected to begin start-up by late April.

The start-up is not expected to bring a surge in production along the Gulf Coast as Motiva plans to carry out repairs on other production units as well as take its time starting the new unit to iron out any kinks. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

SELECTION OF RECENT ARTICLES ON ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC.COM

HOW TO GUT GOLIATH

At long last, someone has written an invaluable guide on how ordinary individuals can publicly criticize the rich and powerful, including multinational corporations, by using the Internet.

EXTRACT: …the most successful gripe site of all time, which targets Shell Oil, actually operates under the domain name royaldutchshellplc.com, Shell’s legal trading name.

ALLEGED BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION AT SHELL MOTIVA

The supplier in question advised us of a favored relationship Shell has had with a rival vendor. It became plain that unless they were prepared to abandon their own principles and hand out substantial bribes, they might as well give up trying to do business with Shell/Motiva. Contract/procurement decisions are allegedly made not on competitive pricing and first class support, but instead on the size and frequency of bribes. So its basically, cough up or give up. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva designates its attorney as an expert in age discrimination suit

3/26/2012 1:28 PM By David Yates

Motiva has designated its attorney as an expert witness concerning attorney’s fees in an age discrimination suit set to go to trial in June.

As previously reported, Tyler resident Kurt Floersheim filed suit against his former employer, Motiva Enterprises, on April 15, 2011, in Jefferson County District Court, alleging he was laid off so that two younger men could replace him.

Motiva, represented by attorney Robert Hambright of the Orgain, Bell & Tucker law firm in Beaumont, designated Hambright as an expert to testify on attorney’s fees on March 22, court records show. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Age discrimination at Shell Motiva Port Arthur Refinery?

They would target the individuals they wanted to get rid of and then they would pressure them to accept the severance package.

FROM A POSTING ON OUR SHELL BLOG BY “oldwhitemaleon Mar 26th, 2012

I recently read on this website about the employee at Motiva Port Arthur who has a pending lawsuit against Motiva Port Arthur for age discrimination.

I’ve seen Motiva Norco use this same practice for years. The people that were usually offered severance packages were white male employees over 50 years old. They informed them that they were poor performers or redundant in their job position and that if they didn’t accept the severance package they would likely be terminated at a later date and not be offered the severance package. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

U.S. Gulf Fuel Rises After Texas Refinery Reports Outage

By Aaron Clark – Mar 21, 2012 8:34 PM GMT

U.S. Gulf Coast gasoline strengthened after Motiva Enterprises LLC reported a power failure at its Port Arthur refinery in Texas.

“Operations followed stabilize, slow down, and shutdown procedures to minimize emissions” after an electrical storm knocked out power, the company said in a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The failure caused emissions from a fluid catalytic cracker, the filing showed. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Another toxic emissions release at Motiva Norco Refinery

Shell reports faulty instrument at Norco, LA, refinery

March 13 | Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:29am EDT

(Reuters) – Shell Oil Co on Tuesday reported emissions due to faulty instruments at a PGC unit at Motiva Enterprises’ 234,700 barrel-per-day Norco, Louisiana refinery, according to a filing with the U.S. National Response Center.

The incident happened around 06:00 am, local time, Monday, the filing said.

SOURCE

RELATED ARTICLE:

Motiva Enterprises toxic environmental record: 25 November 2011

Extracts

During 2010, Motiva’s refinery in Norco reported seven accidents involving the same DU-5 unit, resulting in a total of 18,500 pounds of emissions. The largest accident happened in January, when a fire resulted in the shutdown of three refinery units, one worker injury and more than 17,000 pounds of toxic air emissions, including sulfur dioxide. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Alleged bribery and corruption at Shell Motiva

By John Donovan

In view of the article published today by the New York Times – Hits, and Misses, in a War on Bribery – it is timely to reveal allegations we have received from a long term supplier to Motiva Enterprises, the U.S. company jointly owned by Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Aramco.

The supplier in question advised us of a favored relationship Shell has had with a rival vendor. It became plain that unless they were prepared to abandon their own principles and hand out substantial bribes, they might as well give up trying to do business with Shell/Motiva. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Farewell message to Shell/Motiva VP Tom Purves

Posting on Shell Blog by Golden Triangle Watchman 2012/03/08 at 12:01 pm

As you can see, another power outage at Motiva Port Arthur. Going to really be interesting to watch this new albatross come up on rates and then have this 100 year old power supply keep shutting it down. Tom, why didn’t you fix the electrical system when you had the opportunity? Too busy counting your stock options I guess. Let Jeff do that for you and try to make a difference in your final days.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The reality is Shell can’t build a refinery anywhere

The article re Brinded and Nigeria on “why Shell can’t build a refinery in Nigeria” is comical… the reality is Shell can’t build a refinery anywhere…


Posting on our Shell Blog by a Shell/Motiva insider “Golden Triangle Watchman” on Mar 3rd, 2012 at 2:14 pm

The article re Brinded and Nigeria on “why Shell can’t build a refinery in Nigeria” is comical. Though the justification is correct, the reality is Shell can’t build a refinery anywhere. Just look at our own Port Arthur project. Under Tom Purves’s leadership, this ill fated concept got hatched. Everyone was happy in the early days, taking Port Arthur back to the glory days. Alas, the cit leaders didn’t plan on Tom and the project team bringing global help in here via Bechtel to do the work and therefore not impact the locals nearly as much as what had been advertised. Now, some 2 years late on the commitment for start-up and a price tag that will ultimately grow to $14B, Shell might just as well say ” Forget Nigeria…we can’t build a refinery anywhere. ” Tom’s legacy goes down the toilet with this project. He would do well to retire and at least give our team half a chance to run it well. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Texas becomes a battleground in Keystone XL pipeline controversy

At least two Port Arthur refineries, Motiva Enterprises and Valero, would be on the receiving end of the 1,661-mile pipeline.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Port Arthur FCC, Alky, HCU back in production -sources

HOUSTON | Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:58pm EST

Feb 8 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises’ 285,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery returned a gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit, an alkylation unit and a hydrocracking unit to production on Wednesday following a Tuesday power outage, said sources familiar with refinery operations.

The units were ramping up to full production rates on Wednesday night, the sources said. A brief power outage on Tuesday morning knocked the units out of production, according to a notice the refinery filed with Texas pollution regulators. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Port Arthur refinery hit by power outage -sources

Tue Feb 7, 2012 6:27pm GMT

HOUSTON Feb 7 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises’ 285,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery was hit by a brief power interruption on Tuesday morning, according to sources familiar with refinery operations.

Among the units affected by the power interruption was the refinery’s gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit, the sources said.

The Motiva Port Arthur refinery is a 50-50 joint venture between Saudi Refining and Shell Oil Co, Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s U.S. unit. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Oil bargaining heads toward wire

Hamilton said the industry, represented by Shell Oil Co., also hasn’t budged on health and safety provisions the union wants in its new three-year contract.

By Dan Wallach, [email protected] (409) 838-2876

Published 02:46 p.m., Monday, January 30, 2012

The national oil contract bargaining is heading toward a midnight Tuesday deadline, but the two sides seem far apart on pay and safety rules, a local union member said today.

Eric Hamilton, chairman of the workmen’s committee at the Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur refinery, said the industry side to date has offered a pay increase of between 1.5 percent and 2 percent a year. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Oil Company dumped toxic chemicals into waterway for over 60 yrs

A Shell Oil Co. refinery dumped wastewater into the bayou for more than 60 years, lacing the mucky bottom with toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

DEQ says Bayou Trepagnier, one of state’s most polluted waterways, has been cleaned up

NORCO, La. — The state Department of Environmental Quality says one of Louisiana‘s most polluted waterways has been cleaned up. It’s Bayou Trepagnier (trep-AN’-yay) in Norco.

A Shell Oil Co. refinery dumped wastewater into the bayou for more than 60 years, lacing the mucky bottom with toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

The current owner, Motiva Enterprises LLC, agreed in 2008 to a $10 million cleanup plan.

DEQ says contaminated soil at the end nearest the refinery was removed as an 800-foot-wide “clean zone.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Age discrimination suit against Motiva set for summer trial

As previously reported, Tyler resident Kurt Floersheim filed suit against his former employer, Motiva, on April 15 in Jefferson County District Court, alleging he was laid off so that two younger men could replace him.


1/4/2012 11:59 AM By David Yates

If the case is not mediated by May 14, an age discrimination suit against Motiva Enterprises will go to trial in June.

As previously reported, Tyler resident Kurt Floersheim filed suit against his former employer, Motiva, on April 15 in Jefferson County District Court, alleging he was laid off so that two younger men could replace him.

Court records show that a discovery control plan order was entered in the case on Oct. 13, calling for the case to be mediated by May 14, and also placing the litigation on the court’s June trial docket. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Expanded Motiva Port Arthur Refinery will be largest in North America

By Dan Wallach [email protected] (409) 838-2876

Monday, January 2, 2012

Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur refinery is aiming for completion of its massive Crude Expansion Project, worth at least $7 billion. The project sought to more than double the size of the refinery to a daily capacity of 600,000 barrels of product.

Refinery spokeswoman Verna Rutherford said although some units are still under construction, other units have been completed and are in the process of being handed over to operations at the refinery, with product-in-tank in the first quarter of 2012. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Enterprises toxic environmental record

The following information is in the form of extracts from a recent report produced by Louisiana Bucket Brigade environmental health and justice organization.

Louisiana refineries averaged one accident per day in 2010. There was a total of 354 reported accidents which released more than 975,000 pounds and 225,000 gallons of pollution.

Refineries rely too heavily on contract workers. There are simply not enough full-time workers on staff. Deferred maintenance and inadequate safety management significantly contributed to accidents, according to refineries’ own reports and testimony from the United Steelworkers.

During 2010, Motiva’s refinery in Norco reported seven accidents involving the same DU-5 unit, resulting in a total of 18,500 pounds of emissions. The largest accident happened in January, when a fire resulted in the shutdown of three refinery units, one worker injury and more than 17,000 pounds of toxic air emissions, including sulfur dioxide. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Port Arthur reports FCC upset -filing

HOUSTON | Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:17pm GMT

Nov 22 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises’ 285,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery reported a malfunction on Tuesday in a gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit, according to a notice filed with Texas pollution regulators.

During the correction of a heat imbalance, FCC No. 3 experienced a malfunction in the debutanizer column, according to the notice filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The unit began flaring to correct the overpressure. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva refinery worker files discrimination lawsuit

11/23/2011 12:37 PM By Michelle Keahey

A refinery worker has filed a lawsuit that claims he is a victim of discrimination after he was wrongfully accused of committing a rule violation and fired.

Boyd Weber filed suit against Motiva Enterprises – Norco Refinery on Nov. 11 in federal court in New Orleans.

Weber was employed as a process technician by the defendant and states he was wrongfully accused of committing a lifesaving rule violation on Jan. 15, 2010. As a result, he was terminated on Jan. 22, 2010, the suit claims. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva refinery expansion workers being cut -report

HOUSTON Nov 22 (Reuters) – Layoffs will begin this month for construction workers on a southeast Texas refinery expansion project as the work nears completion, according to a local media report.

About 500 construction workers employed on the Motiva Enterprises Port Arthur, Texas, refinery expansion were told their jobs will end this month, according to a report on the Beaumont Enterprise website.

A total of 13,500 people have worked on the $5 billion project that will make the refinery the largest in the United States at 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of the first quarter in 2012. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Enterprises and Others Sued Over Robotics Patents

Honeywell, Siemens, Others Sued Over Robotics Patents

By Megan Leonhardt

Law360, New York (November 16, 2011, 5:07 PM ET) — A Washington state-based software provider on Tuesday targeted Honeywell International Inc., Siemens Corp., oil refinery operator Motiva Enterprises LLC and others in three separate patent infringement suits over integrated software used to control robotic manufacturing machines.

Roy-G-Biv Corp. alleges in Texas federal court that Honeywell, Siemens, Motiva, ABB Ltd. and packaging solutions company MeadWestvaco Corp. have imported, produced, sold and used software and equipment that infringe several patents. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

US EPA fine Motiva for emissions and permit violations

Florida Home to Seven Air Polluters on EPA Watch List

November 7, 2011

By Trevor Aaronson and Mc Nelly Torres
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting

The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, in partnership with the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Public Integrity, is disclosing for the first time the air polluters in the Sunshine State that have most concerned federal regulators. These sites were included on the EPA Watch List in August or September for having unresolved violations.

The other Florida sites on the Facility Watch List were the Brevard County Central Disposal Facility in Cocoa, Eager Beaver Trailers in Lake Wales, the Miami-Dade County Resource Recovery Facility in Doral, Motiva Enterprises in Tampa, Tampa Electric Company’s Big Bend Station in Apollo Beach, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell focuses on less developed US shale oil plays

HOUSTON | Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:35pm GMT

Oct 31 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) is “very interested” in onshore U.S. shale oil, but the company is focusing on less developed plays to bypass the pricey competitive rush for more established acreage, the head of Shell’s Americas operations said on Monday.

Marvin Odum told Reuters in an interview that oil majors likely will move into shale oil plays faster than they did during the natural gas shale boom.

He also said he expected the Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas pipeline to be approved despite opposition and that Shell’s joint-venture Motiva Enterprises’ refinery in Port Arthur will be well positioned to process heavy Canadian crude transported in the line. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Texas expansion 90 pct complete – Shell

Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:09am EDT

* Port Arthur refinery will be 600,000 bpd

* Will be deep conversion plant

* Refinery to process wide variety of crude oils

NEW YORK, Oct 27 (Reuters) – The expansion of the Motiva Port Arthur, Texas refinery is 90 percent complete and start-up procedures are slated to begin in the first half of next year, Shell officials said on Thursday.

The officials made the remarks about the refinery, jointly owned by Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Aramco, in a third-quarter earnings conference call.

The refinery is currently rated at 325,000 barrels per day of input capacity and will expand to 600,000 bpd once the expansion is complete. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gov. Rick Perry, Shell and Motiva Enterprises

Texas grant recipients gave to Republican Gov. Perry

By Jim Forsyth
SAN ANTONIO, Texas | Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:00am BST

Oct 13 (Reuters) – Businesses that won grants from a Texas economic development fund contributed $7 million to Governor Rick Perry and the Republican Governors Association, which supports him, a report by a watchdog group said on Thursday.

Many companies that received Enterprise Fund funding did not meet their job goals, the watchdog group said.

Motiva Enterprises, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell’s (RDSa.L) U.S. unit and Saudi Refining Inc., received $2 million from the Enterprise Fund in 2006, promising to create 300 refinery jobs in the Houston area by the end of 2010. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Discovery underway in age discrimination suit against Motiva

SOURCE

7/20/2011 3:16 PM By David Yates

A certificate of written discovery was recently filed in an age discrimination suit against Motiva Enterprises.

Tyler resident Kurt Floersheim filed suit against his former employer, Motiva, on April 15 in Jefferson County District Court, alleging he was laid off so that two younger men could replace him.

Court records show that on July 11 Motiva filed a response to Floersheim’s request for disclosure.

The incident began on June 15, 2009, when Motiva informed Floersheim that he was being included in a reduction in force. He alleges that the day after he was laid off, Motiva hired two younger specialists to replace him. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva refutes assertion of sole-source supply for Port Arthur refinery

Jill Davis, Media, Issues and Crisis Manager for Shell Oil Company has confirmed the authenticity of this Motiva Statement – June 14, 2011

A Dow Jones Newswire article published Friday, June 10, 2011 (below), discussed the future source of crude oil supplies for Motiva Enterprise’s Port Arthur, Texas, facility.  The article referenced a source who indicated that Saudi Arabia will be the sole supplier of crude oil for the expanded facility.  In response to this assertion, Motiva reiterates that no sole-source supply arrangements have been made for the Port Arthur refinery.  The company will continue reviewing its various supply options for a cost-efficient source of crude. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Port Arthur looks beyond 600,000 bpd-sources

Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:16pm GMT

* De-bottlenecking to boost capacity after project

* $5 billion expansion to be complete by Q1 ’12

By Erwin Seba

HOUSTON, June 13 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises LLC is already preparing to expand the capacity of its Port Arthur, Texas, refinery beyond 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), which the plant will reach early next year when a giant construction project is completed, according to refinery sources.

A Motiva spokeswoman declined to comment on the refinery’s long-term plans.

Motiva has also begun tying in units built in the past four years as part of that $5 billion capital project to boost the refinery’s capacity beyond the current 285,000 bpd, the sources said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Saudi Arabia To Be Motiva Texas Refinery’s Sole Supplier – Source

By Ben Lefebvre, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

HOUSTON -(Dow Jones)- Saudi Arabia will be the sole supplier of crude oil to Motiva Enterprises LLC’s refinery in Texas after the facility finishes expanding its capacity to 600,000 barrels a day next year, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

The expansion of the Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) and Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (SOI.YY), is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2012. The boost in its intake of Saudi crude oil would coincide with Saudi Arabia’s pledge to boost its oil production despite opposition from fellow members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Fighting Shell Oil, Toxic Waste, Texan Cleans Town, Wins Goldman $150,000

By Mike Di Paola – May 9, 2011 5:01 AM GMT+0100

When Hilton Kelley takes me to see the Port Arthur, Texas, housing project where he was born, it isn’t to complain about the usual eyesores. There’s no graffiti, no broken windows, no trash on the ground.

“People care about the neighborhood,” Kelley says.

The problem is next-door. Adjacent to the property are oil and gas refineries, petrochemical plants and toxic-waste incinerators. Companies such as Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., Shell Oil Co. and Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) have been part of the Port Arthur skyline for decades. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Age discrimination suit filed against Motiva

By David Yates

Tyler resident Kurt Floersheim has filed suit against his former employer, Motiva Enterprises, alleging he was laid off so that two younger men could replace him.

The suit was filed April 15 in Jefferson County District Court.

According to the lawsuit, on June 15, 2009, Motiva informed Floersheim that he was being included in a reduction in force. He alleges that the day after he was laid off, Motiva hired two younger specialists to replace him.

“Defendant’s selection process for its reduction in force resulted in the three oldest engineers being laid off (ages 50-65),” the suit states. “No process engineers under 40 were laid off.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Port Arthur activist wins $150,000 environmental prize

POSTING BY GOLDEN TRIANGLE WATCHMAN

John D, you want to engage with a true activist that has been a pain in the rear for Motiva, read this article. Motiva and the Purves gang are busy building the project. They had to buy this guy off to get the permit…. Might be worth connecting with him and seeing if he truly understands Shell’s equity position on crude when the project completes. They won’t be running the Saudi crude as much since it is going to China… where do you think they are going to get the crude…. Answer another question… Where is Shell’s investment of late north of the border in Canada…. oil sands…. on it’s way to PAR… read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Tar sands pipeline impact worries environmentalists

Golden Triangle Watchman

Check out this article. Best believe, Shell is bringing the tar sands to Port Arthur as well….

April 14, 2011

Sherry Koonce The Port Arthur News

BEAUMONT — BEAUMONT — A proposed pipeline project that would bring tar sands crude oil from Canada all the way to Gulf Coast refineries could pose a significant environmental threat to Southeast Texas, a group of scientific researchers and conservationists said Thursday.

The Lamar University Chapter of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, hosted a town hall meeting to discuss what impact the proposed 1,700-mile oil pipeline called Keystone XL would have not only on Southeast Texas, but the U.S. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Reports Release of Deadly Benzene Chemical at Deer Park Refinery

By John Donovan

26 February 2011

Bloomberg News has reported the release of an unknown amount of the deadly chemical benzene at its Deer Park refinery in Texas.

According to one source, “Being exposed to benzene can lead to a host of diseases“.

Extract: “The worse case is associated to acquiring acute myelogenous leukemia, a type of disease that involves the production of cancer cells in the blood. Leukemia prevents the while blood cells from growing properly. White blood cells are the main components of the body’s immune system. With them impaired, the body becomes more prone to developing other diseases. This is a life-threatening condition brought about by exposure to benzene”.

The benzene incident comes 10 years after Royal Dutch Shell made a commitment to invest $400 million over eight years to reduce the release into the atmosphere of toxic chemicals at its nine refineries operating in the USA, including Deer Park and the Martinez refinery in California.

Bloomberg says: “U.S. refineries must notify the National Response Center if they release hazardous substances in excess of reportable quantities, according to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund”. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Port Arthur expansion sees 2nd crane accident

HOUSTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) – A crane lifting pipes for a crude capacity expansion at Motiva Enterprises’ Port Arthur, Texas, refinery toppled over backward on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the project, the second crane accident on the project.

While the accident was not initially expected to delay the expansion, an investigation into the incident was just getting underway, the sources said.

‘They dodged a bullet,’ said one of the sources of the accident. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell reports unit upset, no fire, at Motiva plant

HOUSTON | Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:21pm GMT

HOUSTON Dec 21 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said on Tuesday that there was no fire at its joint-venture Motiva Enterprises LLC 235,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Convent, Louisiana, on Monday.

A Shell spokesman said a unit that helps production of transportation fuels “experienced an upset resulting in a flare, loud noises and odors. The situation was quickly brought under control and the refinery is running normally.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Reports Fire At Convent, La., Refinery

By Ben Lefebvre: DECEMBER 21, 2010 8:26 AM ET

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

HOUSTON (Dow Jones)–Motiva Enterprises LLC reported Monday a fire at its 235,000 barrel-a-day refinery in Convent, Louisiana, according to a government filing made public Tuesday.

The cause of the fire wasn’t given. The company didn’t immediately return calls.

Motiva operates the eastern and southeastern U.S. refining and marketing businesses of Shell Oil and Saudi Aramco.

-By Ben Lefebvre, Dow Jones Newswires; 713-547-9201; [email protected] read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Motiva VP Tom Purves falls victim to his own Game

By Joe Blow

It was with some elation that I heard of Mr. Purves’ fall from grace with his superiors. In fact I popped the cork on a fine bottle of wine that I have been saving for just such an occasion.  As I sipped my wine and imagined what must have happened, many theories ran through my mind, “Did Botts suddenly grow a brain”, “Did Williams realize what an idiot Purves was”, “Did Voser finally listen to the people”.  Unfortunately for so many, this is a measure of justice, not the absolute Justice we deserve. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Motiva Shutting Part of Port Arthur Refinery for Repairs to Gasoline Unit

Bloomberg

By Timothy Coulter – Jul 11, 2010

Motiva Enterprises LLC is curtailing operations at its Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, because of a leak tied to part of the main gasoline producing unit.

The waste heat boiler at the fluid catalytic cracking unit sprung a leak, the company said in a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

“In order to prevent an emergency shut down with subsequent emissions, a plan is in place to conduct an orderly shutdown,” according to the filing. Repairs will begin tomorrow, the filing shows. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

TCEQ fines Motiva $250,000

June 2, 2010:

AUSTIN – From TCEQ – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality today approved penalties totaling $823,010 against 70 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations.

Included in the total are penalties of $249,818 against Motiva Enterprises LLC, in Jefferson County, for numerous air violations, as a result of routine investigations conducted March and June, 2009. 

FULL ARTICLE

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s Statement on the President’s Offshore Announcement

PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring

HOUSTON, May 27 /PRNewswire/ — The Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico is a terrible tragedy for the families of those who lost their lives or were injured, as well as our neighbors in the Gulf region.

Immediately following the on-set of this incident, we undertook a number of proactive steps to reinforce our top priority, safety, by conducting a comprehensive review of our operating practices, testing frequencies and training protocols. We have an unwavering commitment to safe operating practices and will actively seek to understand the causes of the Deepwater Horizon incident. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell shuts GOM oil pipeline near Transocean fire

REUTERS

NEW YORK, April 22 (Reuters) – Shell Oil Co (RDSa.L) said Thursday it temporarily shut down a 75,000 barrel-per-day crude oil pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico as a precautionary measure due to its proximity to the Transocean rig fire.

The pipeline known as Nakika supplies the larger Delta pipeline system and Motiva’s Norco, Louisiana, refinery.

A company spokeswoman said Shell does not expect the pipeline to be shut for long and said the outage would have no material impact on the Norco refinery’s operations. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell Confirms Worker’s Death At Motiva Port Arthur Refinery

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

APRIL 19, 2010

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)–Royal Dutch Shell said Monday that a worker died at the Motiva Port Arthur refinery it operates in Texas.

The worker’s death “can be confirmed, and we are investigating what the cause was,” a Shell spokeswoman said. No further details were available, but the company said a statement will be issued soon.

The Motiva Port Arthur refinery, 50% joint venture between units of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) and Saudi Aramco, has the capacity to process 275,000 barrels of crude oil a day. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Todd Monette departure: “William T. Purves Swings his Heavy Axe Once More”

It is apparent Mr. Purves… feels that his most valued contribution is to spend his time getting rid of people who are both smarter and more capable then him.

As most of you have seen the insider posting regarding the un-timely departure of Todd Monette from his Technology Manager role at Deer Park Refinery, the word “Perseverance” comes to mind.  It is amazing to this writer that a VP in the Down Stream Manufacturing sector of a large integrated oil company has had nothing better to do for the last year and a half then to sit on high and grind his petty axes.  Seriously, you would think he might be concerned with managing cost structures in refining, constructing a blue goose of a ill thought out refinery expansion that has no market value, or other things consistent with what these blow hards do to earn their colossal salaries.  It is apparent Mr. Purves is not concerned with these things, he feels that his most valued contribution is to spend his time getting rid of people who are both smarter and more capable then him.  As has been previously mentioned here, Mr. Purves does not value others opinions when they differ from his.  The sad thing in this latest revelation is that it begs to question where will Mr. Purves stop?  He has already disposed of most of the more notable people that Mr. Monette has sponsored in his time as a senior leader with Shell/Motiva, I wonder how many others will get caught in his cross hairs.  When you look at the additional departures of James Rhame, and **** ******* at Port Arthur that were carried out the same day it becomes even more surprising.  So lets talk about Mr. Rhame, James was believed by many to be heir apparent to Monette at Port Arthur, Apparently not even his flipping over to Purves’ side could save him.  **** ******* is even more of a shocker as he was reportedly very close to Mr. Purves, I guess Mr. Purves must have questioned his allegiance since by the end of the Monette reign at Port Arthur Mr. ******* was perceived as being tight with Monette.  If I was Forrest Lauher, Steve Sanders, or Jeff “the Funk” Funkouser, I would be concerned. Only so many people can pile into that king sized bed at the lake, and you never know who will be next when it comes to Mr. William T Purves! read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Sudden departure of Shell Motiva Deer Park Refinery Manager, Todd Monette

Something went down and very quickly as I have heard.

FROM A SHELL INSIDER

Todd Monette (right) has left Shell Deer Park as of yesterday, also as of 9:00 a.m. yesterday his name has even been removed from the Shell Global Address book. You should be able to confirm this with other resources if needed. An official email announcement came out this morning with the name of a lady that was taking his leadership role as the technical manager on a temporary basis at this time. Todd was even on the site leadership team prior to his leaving yesterday. Something went down and very quickly as I have heard. More information to come. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.