Husky on defensive after fire, injuries at U.S. refinery

CALGARY At least 11 people were injured and some transported to hospital on Thursday morning after a fire broke out at Husky Energy Inc.’s refinery in Superior, Wisc. putting the Calgary-based oil producer on the defensive, as it argued there were no known commonalities between the accident and other recent operational mistakes.

“There was a fire and the fire is out. Everyone has been accounted for. There were some people injured but we don’t know the extent of the injuries,” Husky president and CEO Rob Peabody said following the company ’s annual meeting in Calgary on Thursday.

Peabody said he didn’t know what caused the fire and couldn’t confirm what local media in the area were reporting — that the fire was preceded by an explosion that could be felt up to a mile away from the site and that seven ambulances were on the scene.

Burning asphalt at the refinery prompted the evacuation of much of the town of about 27,000. Local officials say the evacuations are a precaution as a plume of noxious black smoke drifts southward from the plant.

Husky bought the 50,000-barrels-per-day Superior Refinery last year for $435 million to process more of the company’s heavy oil production. It had been shut down for planned maintenance at the time of fire on Thursday.

Western Canada Select, the Canadian heavy oil benchmark’s discount against the U.S. crude, widened to $17.40 per barrel, its highest level since the start of the month.