Refinery Manager David Foster said those efforts are close to fruition.

“We're getting close,” Foster said. “We've finished all the major mechanical work and we've done all our pressure testing. I'm pleased with our progress ... The morale of our people has been strong. They've worked hundreds of thousands of man-hours to get us back in operation.”

The biggest sign of things returning to normal should come within the next week or two when the “cat cracker” — the major gasoline processing unit at the refinery — is restarted.

“Sometime in the next week, we should be positioned for a restart of the cat cracker,” Foster said. “After we get the cat back up, for all intents, we'll consider ourselves pretty much back at full production.”

The alkaline unit — which is used to adjust the octane rating in the gasoline — will need a few more weeks before it is ready for full operation, Foster said.

As pleased as he is with the pace of reconstruction, Foster added he is just as happy that the work has gone forward as safely as possible. Aside from a tank exploding in the asphalt unit this spring, no major incidents or injuries have occurred during the rebuilding process.

“One thing I really want to stress is that we've done an extensive amount of pressure testing,” he said. “We're making sure every bolt is tightened down ... I'm convinced that this thing will be safe when we start it back up.”

As the refinery nears resumption of full operation, the work force numbers have scaled back dramatically. At the peak of reconstruction, Foster said there were 1,700 people employed at the refinery. That number has been reduced to 600, with even more cuts to come in the next few weeks.

Those personnel reductions affected contractors hired for the reconstruction effort, Foster said, and not permanent employees.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it