Major fire contained at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, investigation underway

A major fire has been extinguished at Chevron’s main refinery on the US West Coast. The cause of the incident remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched to determine its origin.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

A large-scale fire broke out Thursday evening at the Chevron Corporation refinery in El Segundo, California, sending heavy smoke columns visible for several kilometres across the South Bay region. The fire, brought under control by on-site emergency teams and local firefighters, caused no injuries among employees or contractors present on the site.

A strategic facility on the West Coast

The El Segundo refinery is the largest crude oil processing facility operated by Chevron on the US West Coast. It plays a central role in fuel supply for the state of California, with a processing capacity exceeding 269,000 barrels per day. Its operations directly impact regional distribution flows, particularly for gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels.

No immediate impact on public safety

According to a statement released by Chevron Corporation, all personnel present at the site during the fire were accounted for and no evacuation was required in the surrounding areas. Local authorities confirmed there was no immediate risk to the public and no air quality alerts were issued.

Previous incidents at the El Segundo site

This is not the first time an incident has affected the refinery, where critical operations require constant monitoring. Regulatory authorities, in coordination with Chevron, have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the blaze. The outcome of this analysis could impact the site’s internal safety protocols.

Heightened attention across the energy sector

The events in El Segundo come at a time when the oil industry in California is under increased pressure regarding safety and regulatory oversight. Any disruption at a facility of this scale can affect logistical balance across a wide portion of the regional market.

Eight OPEC+ countries are set to increase oil output from November, as Saudi Arabia and Russia debate the scale of the hike amid rising competition for market share.
The potential removal by Moscow of duties on Chinese gasoline revives export prospects and could tighten regional supply, while Singapore and South Korea remain on the sidelines.
Vladimir Putin responded to the interception of a tanker suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, calling the French operation “piracy” and denying any direct Russian involvement.
Russia’s Energy Ministry stated it is not considering blocking diesel exports from producers, despite increasing pressure on domestic fuel supply.
TotalEnergies has reached a deal to sell mature offshore oil fields in the North Sea to Vår Energi as part of a $3.5bn divestment plan aimed at easing its rising debt.
The Russian government has extended the ban on gasoline and diesel exports, including fuels traded on the exchange, to preserve domestic market stability through the end of next year.
OPEC has formally rejected media reports suggesting that eight OPEC+ countries plan a coordinated oil production increase ahead of their scheduled meeting on October 5.
International Petroleum Corporation has completed its annual common share repurchase programme, reducing its share capital by 6.2% and is planning a renewal in December, pending regulatory approval.
Kansai Electric Power plans to shut down two heavy fuel oil units at Gobo Thermal Power Station, totalling 1.2GW of capacity, as part of a production portfolio reorganisation.
Canada’s Questerre partners with Nimofast to develop PX Energy in Brazil, with an initial commitment of up to $50mn and equal, shared governance.
BP commits $5 billion to Tiber-Guadalupe, with a floating platform targeting 80,000 barrels per day and first production in 2030, to increase its offshore volumes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Russia projects a 12.5% contraction in oil and gas revenues in 2025, before a gradual recovery through 2028, according to official economic projections.
Baker Hughes will supply up to 50 subsea trees and associated equipment to Petrobras to support offshore production in Brazil, strengthening its role in the development of pre-salt fields.
Driven by rising global energy consumption and exploration investments, the oilfield service equipment market is expected to grow at a 5.39% CAGR to reach $36.87bn by 2031.
US sanctions against Serbian oil company NIS, owned by Gazprom, were delayed by eight days after talks between Belgrade and Washington, President Aleksandar Vucic said.
Nigeria’s oil union ordered the suspension of gas and crude deliveries to Dangote refinery following the dismissal of hundreds of local workers, escalating an industrial dispute with potential supply impacts.
Vitol strengthens its presence in West Africa by acquiring a 30% stake in the Baleine oil field from Eni, while maintaining an active role in the country’s offshore development.
ShaMaran and several international oil companies have reached a provisional deal with Baghdad and Erbil to resume crude exports from the Kurdistan region via pipeline, after months of suspension.
The number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose for the fourth consecutive week, supported by higher crude prices and OPEC+’s difficulties in meeting production targets.
Baghdad has restarted crude shipments from Kurdistan via the pipeline to Turkey, following a two-year halt linked to legal and contractual disputes involving international firms operating in the region.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

[wc_register_modal]