Meet Site Manager Tony Wood
February 2025 CVO Community Newsletter
Understanding Flares: More Than Just a Flame
Flares are essential environmental and safety control devices used to burn vented gases in a controlled manner. Their operation is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Flares help safely burn gases and serve as safeguard equipment during operational events such as power loss, shutdowns, or startups.
There are two primary types of flares at the Channelview Complex: elevated “candlestick” flares and multi-point ground-level flares.
Elevated candlestick flares feature a tall tower with a visible flame at the top. These devices can burn gases with a 98-99% efficiency and use steam to reduce smoke. The operators fine-tune the process to keep things running smoothly. Combustion of some gases, like hydrogen, may not always produce a visible flame.
Ground flares sit at ground level behind protective walls, taking up more ground space than traditional candlestick flares. One of the ground flares at Channelview is the size of two football fields. These units have a 99.5% gas destruction rate, creating a subtle glow during operation.
Regardless of the type, flares are constantly monitored by cameras and analyzers to ensure everything is running as designed. Flaring is a critical safety and environmental control measure that helps the site operate safely.
What's a Turnaround and How Will It Affect the Community?
A turnaround is a planned maintenance and engineering activity in which a specific operating unit within the site is shut down. This allows equipment to be inspected, cleaned, repaired, or upgraded before restarting. Turnarounds are essential for maintaining the safety and reliability of our operations.
During our upcoming turnaround scheduled from March through May 2025, you may notice traffic changes in the area. At certain times, there will be heavier traffic flows along Sheldon Road and Wallisville Road due to the additional contractors needed to complete the work. To help with traffic, lighted, orange flow signs were placed at key intersections in the first week of February. During the March- April event, we also have staggering start/end times for contractors. During peak hours, law enforcement will also be on hand to manage the traffic lights.
As we begin and end the turnaround, you may also spot a visible flame and steam coming from our flare stacks. This is a normal part of our safety and environmental control procedures, where we use the flares to manage and combust any process materials produced during regular operations, shutdown, or startup. Flaring is closely monitored to meet all state and federal regulations.
Safety is a priority at the Channelview Complex. We work hard to maintain a culture of safety and responsibility for our employees and the community.
Below is a map of the area where lighted signs and law enforcement will regulate traffic at peak times.
When Safety Becomes a Lifestyle: Channelview Complex Emergency Response
At the LYB Channelview Complex, safety isn’t just a priority—it’s part of the LYB culture. There is an Emergency Response Team (ERT) of 223 highly trained members that provide rapid, self-reliant emergency response.
The ERT is equipped with fire trucks, ambulances, and specialized gear and is prepared to respond to any situation, from hazardous materials incidents to marine spills. The team is divided into five specialized groups: Fire Haz-Mat, Fire Apparatus, Rescue Responders, Emergency Medical Responders, and Marine Spill Responders. Training is the cornerstone of ERT readiness. Team members undergo rigorous, year-round exercises onsite and at the prestigious Texas A&M Fire School. These sessions sharpen their skills and prepare them for real-world challenges.
By maintaining its state-of-the-art emergency response capabilities, the LYB Channelview Complex enhances the safety of its workforce and surrounding communities while reducing reliance on local emergency services. This commitment to self-sufficiency highlights LYB's dedication to being a responsible neighbor and industry leader in safety.
LyondellBasell Community Corner
LyondellBasell remains focused on being a responsible corporate neighbor, actively collaborating with local stakeholders and investing in programs that promote safety, health, diversity, economic development and social well-being.
Community Engagement Highlights:
- Prairie Plant-a-thon: Channelview Complex employees supported environmental stewardship by participating in the 14th annual Prairie Plant-a-thon at Sheldon Lake State Park. Under the guidance of Texas Parks and Wildlife experts, employees and their families planted native species like bluestem, switchgrass and Indian paintbrush. This hands-on conservation effort supports local wildlife and promotes biodiversity, showcasing LyondellBasell's dedication to ecosystem restoration.
- Holiday Giving Campaign: The Channelview Complex launched an innovative safety-focused toy drive called "Soaring for Joy," which provided $1 for every safety observation on-site over two months, resulting in a $5,000 donation to Toys for Tots. Employees also collected over 200 toys for the Channelview Fire Department's Santa event in a separate toy drive.
- Crosby ISD Recognition: LyondellBasell was named the October Employer of the Month by Crosby ISD, celebrating the volunteer hours contributed by Channelview Complex employees. This recognition was presented at a Crosby ISD Board of Trustees meeting, highlighting the company's ongoing commitment to local education and community development.
Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) is an online system and app for community members to view posted messages and alerts regarding operational updates from local facilities. Channelview Complex actively participates in posting to the site whenever there is an event of public interest.
Join the Conversation
Founded in the 1990s, the Community Advisory Panel to Lyondell and Equistar (CAPLE) meets eight times yearly to discuss site operations, sitewide environmental performance and emergency response.
The mission of CAPLE is to provide an ongoing dialogue between the LyondellBasell Channelview Complex and the surrounding community. CAPLE promotes substantive two-way communication on community and/or company concerns, including health, safety, and the environment. This communication is directed to specific actions, with the goal to develop mutual understanding, trust, and partnership between the industry and the community, which will enhance the quality of life in the area.
CAPLE meetings are open to Channelview, Crosby and Highlands community members. The group meets approximately eight times yearly in January, February, April, May, August, September, October and November. Meeting times vary each month. For more information on CAPLE, email CAPLEFacilitator@gmail.com
Who We Are
The LyondellBasell Channelview Complex has approximately 2,200 employees and contractors and is one of the company’s largest operating sites. Opened in 1957, it is approximately 4,000 acres with several manufacturing facilities. The raw materials produced at Channelview Complex are used in everyday goods, including automobiles, home furnishings, food packaging, automotive fuels and flexible piping.
Channelview Complex
8280 Sheldon Road, Channelview, TX 77530
281- 862-4000