Table 17 illustrates the refining capacity, by state, in each of 

 the six principal U.S. refining regions. It is interesting to compare 

 refining areas to both established producing areas and to markets. 



Refineries and offshore development do not correlate directly; a 

 refinery is not required in the frontier area onshore to serve the 

 offshore development. Therefore, investment to construct a refinery is 

 likely to be separate from other OCS-related development. While the 

 effects of substantial onshore development to support an offshore field, 

 and of constructing and operating a refinery are individually substantial, 

 the composite effect of both refineries and onshore support at a single 

 site would be much greater. The probability that both types of development 

 would occur together in the same place, however, is remote. 



Description 



The modern refinery consists of highly automated process units 

 which physically and chemically alter all or part of the crude oil 

 stream. In addition to the processing units, a refinery has a network of 

 pipes and pumping stations, storage tanks for crude and product, wastewater 

 treatment facilities, LNG storage tanks, and ancillary buildings (e.g., 

 administration, machinery shop, fire station, warehouses, and truck 

 loading terminals). Pipelines enter the refinery from oil storage 

 terminals and leave the refinery to go to other oil storage terminals 

 (2.3.6). The refinery is always surrounded by a buffer zone for safety. 



Due to their large demand for cooling water, most refineries have 

 large clarifiers to clean up water used in their cooling towers and 

 other parts of the refining process. Collection and treatment of other 

 wastewater necessitates rather extensive storm water and process water 

 systems. Storm waters, if necessary, are treated in aeration ponds 

 before discharge as they may have picked up contaminants. All process 

 waters pass through oil separators and aeration ponds before discharge 

 to surface waters. 



In the "lower-48," refineries will all have railroad spurs for 

 delivery of materials and heavy equipment during both construction and 

 operation. Coastal refineries will usually have barge and tanker terminals. 

 Electrical power substations onsite will step down the line voltage for 

 use in the refinery. 



Site Requirements 



The siting requirements for a new "grass roots" refinery are extensive, 

 Acceptable sites must meet locational criteria with respect to the 

 market to be served, to existing oil industry infrastructure and to 

 transportation access; and a site must meet rather stringent requirements 



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