Valero Texas City Coker

Valero Energy, which owns 14 refineries in North America, started a new coker at its plant in Texas City.

The coker can convert heavy oil products into lighter products such as naphtha and heating oil. The coker has a capacity of 45,000 barrels a day, said Richard Marcogliese, senior vice president of refinery operations in San Antonio.

The San Antonio-based company began operating the coker last Wednesday after more than a year of construction, he said this week.

"We'll easily get 30,000 barrels a day more product from the refinery as a result of the new coker" in addition to the 200,000 barrels produced, Marcogliese said. "The new unit will also allow us to run heavier, cheaper crude oil."

Valero Energy Inc

Texas City Coker