[StBernard] Some St. Bernard Parish residents report heavy smoke from Murphy refinery stack

[Westley Annis]

Some St. Bernard Parish residents report heavy smoke from Murphy refinery
stack
by The Times-Picayune 
Wednesday February 25, 2009, 2:51 PM
Several St. Bernard Parish residents reported heavy smoke coming from a
stack at the Murphy Oil refinery in Meraux this afternoon, a situation a
plant spokesman said was similar to flaring. 

Murphy spokesman Carl Zornes said an "upset" had occurred in a process unit,
resulting in the smoke. He added that it was "similar to a flare." Zornes
did not say what the upset was.

Flaring is a process used to burn off gases during malfunctions in
production.

St. Bernard Parish Fire Chief said the smoke had been reported to the fire
department around 12:40 p.m., but that the plant was handling it. 

Stone said Murphy was checking the area near the plant for any offsite
impact, but Zornes said he was unaware of any.