Phillips 66 plans 3+ month Lake Charles rebuild

Phillips 66 must rebuild a cooling tower destroyed by hurricane winds as part of repairs that could take more than three months at its 249,000 b/d refinery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the company said in filings to state regulators.

Hurricane Laura destroyed a cooling tower already slated for replacement in October as it raked across western Louisiana on 27 August. Phillips 66 described overall damage to the facility as "moderate" and requiring more than three months of repair in a separate assessment filed 2 September.

The refiner could not be immediately reached for comment. Phillips 66 on 9 September issued a statement anticipating a restart "in the coming weeks", depending on repairs to the region's devastated electrical grid.

Utility Entergy has said it must rebuild transmission lines and other electrical infrastructure. Citgo has estimated repairs and restart work will continue through October at its nearby 425,000 b/d Lake Charles refinery.

By Elliott Blackburn