Huntsman's Port Neches EO unit flares

OREANDA-NEWS. Huntsman's F6 ethylene oxide unit at its plant in Port Neches, Texas shut briefly yesterday following a power surge, according to an emissions filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

A power surge from the loss of a transformer at an adjacent facility caused several F6 pumps and the reclaim processor to shutdown, which in turn caused the F6 unit and an incinerator to shutdown, according to the company. The equipment was brought back on line, the filing stated.

The event resulted in emissions of ethane, ethylene, ethylene glycol, and ethylene oxide. The Port Neches plant can produce up to 400mn lb/yr of ethylene, 816mn lb/yr of ethylene glycol, and 1bn lb/yr of ethylene oxide.