Fuel supply reductions to areas supplied by refineries hit by Hurricane Harvey should ease as Corpus Christi-area refineries restart "in the next several days," according to Valero.
The US independent refiner shut its 275,000 b/d refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, and 95,000 b/d refinery in nearby Three Rivers before Harvey spun ashore with at least 130 mph (209 km/h) sustained winds on 25 August. Record rainfall dumping more than 47 inches (120cm) in the Beaumont and Port Arthur refining areas and almost 46 inches in Pasadena on the Houston Ship Channel disrupted 5mn b/d of Texas and Louisiana refining capacity.
About 795,000 b/d of refining capacity in the area supplying central and northern Texas markets shut for the storm. Halted operations in the Port of Corpus Christi slowed restart efforts.
Supply concerns have spawned lines at fueling stations in the Austin and Dallas markets.
Valero was supplying its branded stores at reduced levels in central Texas and at normal levels in the Dallas market.

