August 30, 2012:

Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) said Thursday two of its Louisiana refineries, shut down in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaac, have sustained no major damage and are starting to be restaffed. Valero shut down its refineries in Meraux and Norco early in the week as Tropical Storm Isaac entered the Gulf of Mexico. Isaac, which became a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall in southeast Louisiana Tuesday, weakened to a tropical storm Wednesday and has moved north to the central part of the state. Initial inspections have turned up minor wind damage to the facilities but no major damage to the refineries' production units, Valero spokesman Bill Day said. "We should have a better idea in the next few days when restart can begin," Mr. Day said. Valero's Memphis refinery continues to run at a reduced rate because of the closing of the 1.2-million-barrel-a-day Capline pipeline that provides oil to the refinery, Mr. Day said. Chalmette Refining LLC, Phillips 66 (PSX) and Motiva Enterprises LLC, a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA, RDSA.LN) and Saudi Arabian Oil Co., were not immediately available to comment on the status of their shutdown refineries in Louisiana.

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) declined to comment on the state of its 464,000 barrel-a-day refinery in Garyville, La., which it ran at reduced rates during Isaac. Chevron Corp. (CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), both of which reduced output at their area refineries before the storm, were not available for comment.

By Down Jones News Wire