Tulsa Refinery Sunoco
Sunoco is an American oil company that was originally called The Peoples Natural Gas Company when it was founded in 1886. Within four years the company had changed its name to Sun Oil Company, but it wasn't until 1998 that the name was officially changed to Sunoco, Inc.
In 1968, the Sun Oil Company merged with the Sunray DX Oil Company from Tulsa Oklahoma, and soon after they took over the local refinery. They still are in charge of the facility today, and it currently is able to process more than 83,000 barrels of crude oil within a 24 hour period of time.
A fire broke out at the Tulsa Refinery in March of 2004. The blaze began within a propane asphalt unit, and was caused by a small leak. Very little damage was sustained, and no one was injured by the fire. A plant manager confirmed that as a result the tower where the fire occurred was shut down, but only for a short period of time before it was brought back up to a fully functional mode.
Like many other oil refineries, the plant in Tulsa featured products that were made out of asbestos on the premises. These products were designed to be heat resistant, so they were considered to be very beneficial for the plants because they produce large amounts of heat during the refining process. However, asbestos is a toxic material, and its very presence can be extremely harmful to any person who comes into contact with it. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers, so when it is broken up those fibers are released into the air. They are small enough that any person may breathe them in without even realizing it has happened. By inadvertently inhaling the asbestos fibers, individuals are put at risk of developing respiratory problems or even a potentially deadly form of cancer. Former employees are urged to seek medical attention and to advise their healthcare practitioners about their possible exposure to this harmful substance.
As of May, 2008, the Tulsa refinery continues to thrive, and the executives at Sunoco are in talks to potentially sell the plant. The company has not been listed as being for sale, but they have received an official offer. A spokesperson for the company said they are investigating the potential value of selling the facility, and will make a decision based on the results. Tom Hofmann , the Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, has stated that they expect to come to a decision at some point in 2008.
Last modified: December 09, 2009.
