Benicia Refinery, California

The Benicia Refinery was built by Exxon from 1966-1969, and has the distinction of receiving the first shipload of crude to be delivered from the Alaskan Pipeline, in 1976. Today the refinery processes crude from the Alaska North Slope, the San Joaquin Valley (delivered via pipeline), and assorted foreign crudes. California Air Resources Board (CARB) gasoline comprises the bulk of its distillate output, in addition to asphalt, propane, jet fuel, and ultra-low-sulfur diesel. It is considered an average, large refinery, capable of processing 170,000 barrels of oil per day. When Exxon and Mobil merged, Exxon had to divest itself of some of its assets, including this refinery, which it sold to a young oil company called Valero in 2000. The oil refinery and the surrounding industrial park were built on the grounds of the Benicia Arsenal. Munitions storage structures cover the hillside, some of which have been converted to new uses, removed, or built on top of. Unexploded ordnance surveys and removal continues.