ONEOK: MB-4 To Reopen After Repairs, No Material Impact

SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) – ONEOK Hydrocarbon said it expects to resume operations at the MB-4 fractionator after repairs to the fire-struck facility at Mont Belvieu, TX, adding that no material impact was anticipated on its financials from the incident.

Four fractionation facilities at the MB-4 were impacted by an explosion reported on Monday (10/6), during a planned turnaround that caused an excess opacity event.

An update shared on Tuesday (10/7) with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said Mont Belvieu Frac-1, Frac-2, Frac-4, and Frac-5 were subsequently shut after the incident.

ONEOK, on its website, described the incident as a fire that occurred in the heating system of ONEOK’s MB-4 fractionators.

“Fractionation operations at the complex were promptly shut down, and the fire, which was limited to MB-4, was quickly extinguished,” it said.

ONEOK also anticipates that after completing initial safety reviews, it will resume operations of the complex, “other than the MB-4 fractionator, which will resume operations following completion of repairs”.

The company added it “does not currently anticipate that the incident will have a material effect on the company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.”

While The City of Mont Belvieu said earlier there were three minor injuries from the incident, ONEOK itself reported no injuries among its employees.