Sandy Shuts Down Chemical Facilities, Marcellus Rigs

Print this Article | Send to Colleague

Many East Coast chemical facilities, refineries and drilling sites curtailed or shut down operations ahead of superstorm Sandy's arrival on Oct. 29. "The good thing is that from a production standpoint, the storm shouldn't have any impact," said Cabot Oil & Gas spokesman George Stark, about Marcellus drilling. "But from a drilling standpoint, it will."

For full story, click here.

Also affected was the Salem 1 nuclear reactor, which is back in service after being forced to shut down when Superstorm Sandy struck.

Salem 1 was taken off line by control room operators at 1:09 a.m. Tuesday after four of six of its circulating water pumps were no longer available for use. Debris churned up in the Delaware River and Bay was clogging the water intakes to the plant, restricting the proper flow of water.

When operating at full power, Salem 1 draws in and circulates 1.5 billion gallons of cooling water a day.
Delmar said the plant had reached full power by early evening tonight.

Salem 1 is one of three reactors operated by PSEG Nuclear at is Artificial Island generating complex in Lower Alloways Creek. Neighboring Salem 2 was already off-line for a rescheduled fueling outage when Superstorm Sandy hit last week. The third plant, Hope Creek, remained operating throughout the storm.
The facility had been prepared for the storm and weathered it well, said Joe Delmar, spokesman for the plant’s operator, PSEG Nuclear

The three plants comprise the second largest commercial nuclear power complex in the United States.
PSEG Nuclear's parent company is Newark-based Pubic Service Enterprise Group.

For full story, click here.