A leak at a de-ethanizer tower has delayed the restart of Flint Hills Resources' steam cracker in Port Arthur, Texas, the company said in a filing with state regulators made available Tuesday.
The leak was detected Monday as Flint Hills was restarting its 617,000 mt/year capacity cracker after a 10-day stoppage to address another leak.
"Due to the leak, the [light olefins unit] was taken out of service and the tower is in the process of being de-inventoried for repairs," Flint Hills said in its filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Emissions stemming from the latest shutdown could last through August 13, the company said in the filing.
In the markets Tuesday, spot ethylene was heard traded at 50 cents/lb Mont Belvieu Williams pipe basis and subsequently talked in a range of 48-51 cents/lb Mont Belvieu Williams pipe basis, up from Monday's assessment of 48.75 cents/lb FD USG.
