CITGO - CORPUS CHRISTI REFINERY - FACILITY SITING PROJECT

Citgo Petroleum Corporation installed eight pre-fabricated blast resistant modular buildings at its Corpus Christi Refinery, a project valued at $4,500,000. The new construction added 10,730 sq ft of specialized facility space within the plant's process area, located at 1802 Nuecec Bay Blvd in Nueces County. This work represents a significant infrastructure investment focused on enhancing safety protocols within the active refinery environment.

The project was designed by Wood Group USA INC and executed in multiple phases. This phased approach allowed the facility to maintain operations while integrating these critical safety structures. The total cost of $4,500,000 reflects the specialized nature of the materials and installation required for blast-resistant units in an industrial setting.

Project Scope and Cost Context

At $419 per square foot, the project's cost per unit area is above the county median of $118 for similar new construction filings in Nueces County. The estimated build window of 886 days was also longer than the county median of 242 days. These figures indicate a complex construction process that prioritized safety and integration over speed, consistent with the high-stakes environment of a petroleum refinery.

This geographical context is relevant for understanding the environmental factors considered during the facility siting process. The project was privately funded on private land for private use, ensuring that the regulatory framework focused on accessibility and safety standards rather than public infrastructure requirements.

Registration and Status

The project was registered with TDLR in March 2021, with construction starting in June 2021. Kenneth Otten served as the registered accessibility specialist for the duration of the project. TDLR closed the project file in December 2023, which marks the end of the accessibility review process for this construction. This closure confirms that all necessary inspections and reviews were completed according to the registered schedule.

With the file closed, the regulatory oversight for this specific construction phase is complete. The presence of these eight modular buildings enhances the operational safety of the refinery, addressing specific hazards associated with the facility's processes. The completion of this project signifies a major step in the modernization of safety infrastructure at the Citgo Corpus Christi Refinery.