Page 13 - FINAL Phillips 66 50 Year Book

1960s

1960s

Options for a Conoco refinery in the UK were recorded in a document
dated September 24, 1963. England was a natural choice, given
the company’s significant downstream presence there. “Alternative
locations were considered,” the document read, “the most attractive of
which was on the east coast of England in the Immingham area.”

There were three other possible locations on the cards: Southampton
Water, Bantry Bay in southern Ireland and the Clyde. Southampton was
too congested and Ireland too remote, so that left two in the running.
Early planning of site 1963

Immingham had land available with good foundations, there was good
river access, an excellent water supply and enough people to provide the
labour required. Not only that, it was in a good position for domestic and
Europe-wide distribution, and local authorities were happy to develop
their own facilities in a show of support. And there was the 520-mile
Ministry Pipeline, originally built to supply RAF and USAF bases during
the war but could now be used to feed UK markets.

Soon plans were put in motion, and the life of the Humber Refinery
began when Conoco embarked on building its first ever wholly owned
refining and petrochemical complex outside the United States. It was to
be the first in the UK specifically designed to produce petroleum coke –
in fact, the largest such facility in Western Europe.

Immingham was ideal: the 480-acre site, surrounded by fertile farmland
on the estuary of the River Humber, was perfect for the purpose. The
plan: to refine crude oil from a significant discovery in North Africa –
a fair distance from the established US refineries – in an operation
capable of a crude capacity of 80,000 barrels a day, with units to Press conference for awarding of contracts at the Waldorf Hotel,
produce chemical feedstock. London, 1963.