UNOCAL SHALE OIL FACILITY - Refinery in Parachute, Colorado, USA

The UNOCAL SHALE OIL FACILITY is a refinery located at 10735 County Road 215 in Parachute, Garfield County, Colorado. It operates within the United States' oil infrastructure sector, which is regulated by the US EPA Clean Air Act Refinery MACT standards and other federal environmental laws. The facility's location in the Rocky Mountain region places it in a key area for domestic crude processing. As a refinery with a NAICS code of 324110 (Petroleum Refineries), the facility is involved in the conversion of crude oil into various petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The specific capacity and Nelson complexity index are not detailed, but typical refineries in this region range from small to medium scale, often processing crude from local basins like the Denver-Julesburg and Uinta Basins. The facility's operational status indicates ongoing activity, contributing to the local economy and energy supply. Environmental oversight includes compliance with air emission standards, wastewater treatment under the Clean Water Act, and spill prevention measures. The refinery's role in the regional fuel supply chain underscores its importance to Colorado's energy infrastructure.

The facility is situated in a semi-arid region of western Colorado, near the Colorado River. Refineries in this area must manage air emissions under the EPA's Refinery MACT rules and address potential water contamination risks due to proximity to the river. Spill prevention and secondary containment are critical given the terrain and ecological sensitivity of the Colorado River watershed.