This was unplanned, and is under control, said Chevron.
Richmond firefighters say there was no impact outside of the refinery property.
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Due to the smoke, a Community Warning System Level 1 was issued. Level 1 is one of the lowest on the CWS scale.
Chevron says, it is working with regulators, and investigating what went wrong.
The refinery is operating normally.
Chevron told ABC7 a "process unit" is a refinery term for one of their big pieces on equipment, "a unit," which helps refine the oil.
Refinery officials say flaring can be used to "relieve pressure during the refining processes and help keep our equipment and plants operating safely."
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Chevron says members of the community can visit Richmond Air Monitoring to view real-time air quality data.
No injuries have been reported.
In a statement to ABC7 News, Chevron writes:
"This morning at approximately 11:20 a.m., the Chevron Richmond Refinery experienced flaring activity due to an upset at a process unit. Our workforce quickly worked to resolve the issue and flaring is currently stopped. As we continue to make adjustments, intermittent flaring is possible. Due to the visibility of smoke, a Community Warning System (CWS) Level 1 was issued to keep residents informed. Level 1 is one of the lowest on the CWS scale.
Flaring is an important part of keeping the Refinery running safely. Flares are a safety device used in refineries to relieve pressure during the refining processes and help keep our equipment and plants operating safely. Members of the community can visit www.richmondairmonitoring.org to view real-time air quality data."
Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.