Refineries Restart

The following was reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune: Motiva Enterprises, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Arabi's state oil company, said Monday that its Norco refinery is increasing production rates to normal after closing in preparation for Hurricane Gustav. The refinery can process 236,400 barrels of oil a day. Valero Energy Corp. also said that it had restarted the main processing units at its refinery in St. Charles Parish over the weekend. The company also returned its refineries in Houston, Texas City and Port Arthur to "planned rates," a company spokesman said by e-mail.