[StBernard] Chalmette refinery leak fixed, no update on output

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette refinery leak fixed, no update on output
Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:54pm GMT  

HOUSTON Oct 11 (Reuters) - A hydrogen sulfide leak from a pipe has been
fixed at Exxon Mobil Corp's (XOM.N: Quote) joint-venture refinery in
Chalmette, Louisiana, but a spokesman had no update on whether affected
production had been restored.
Spokesman Kevin Allexon said on Monday that the leak at the 192,500
barrels-per-day refinery was contained late Friday. Last week he said the
leak had affected production, and on Monday he had no information on whether
it had been restored. He said the refinery was able to meet customer needs.

A 33-year-old contractor late Wednesday collapsed and died at the refinery
while working to repair the leak.

St. Bernard Parish Coroner Bryan Bertucci in Chalmette won't be able to say
why Gregory Starkey died until toxicology test results are available within
a few weeks, according to his wife and spokeswoman, Ruth Bertucci.

"At this point he does not have the information to determine the cause of
death," she told Reuters on Monday. (Reporting by Kristen Hays; Editing by
David Gregorio)