November 07, 2012

Valero Refinery at Benecia, California


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

The West Coast isn't quite as industrialized as the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard, but we do have an abundance of oil refineries here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In addition to this Valero plant in Benecia, others within a small radius on the map are Tesoro in Pacheco, Chevron in Richmond, Phillips66 in Rodeo, Tosco in Avon, and Shell in Martinez.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Valero near Benecia was purchased in 2000 from ExxonMobile, along with 350 Exxon gas stations in Caifornia, mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Total feedstock throughput capacity of the Valero refinery is 170,000 barrels per day. Products include propane, butane, California Summer formula CARB gasoline, ultra-low-sulfur diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil, residual oil and asphalt.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Had I gone knocking at the gate I'm fairly certain that permission to photograph would not be granted, so I had to be a bit stealthy with my long lens and early hour. Sometimes photographers need to push-the-envelope.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I like that phrase--pushing-the-envelope...
Or as my dad used to say; "See you in the funny-papers"...


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2 comments:

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

Why is it the closer we live to a refinery the more expensive the gasoline is at the pump? One of the great mysteries of life.

photowannabe said...

I'm so glad you "push the envelope".
I get to see things that I would otherwise not.
Love Sindbad and I's comment. Too true!

 
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