Turnarounds 101: Keeping equipment running for years to come

Have you recently seen a surge in activity at our facilities, with more lights in the night sky, additional personnel on site and extra trucks making their rounds? This uptick signifies what we refer to as a “turnaround,” a critical event to ensure our plants continue to run reliably and safely.

We recognize that this increased activity may prompt questions: What exactly is happening? Is it safe? How long will this last?

What is a turnaround?

Similar to how cars go for maintenance and servicing every few years, a turnaround is like a check-up for our manufacturing facilities. Instead of waiting for problems, we temporarily stop operations at certain units to inspect, clean, repair and upgrade equipment.

A turnaround involves thousands of workers, often working 24/7.

What you might notice during a turnaround:

We do everything we can to minimize disruptions, but you might see:

• More traffic as workers come and go.
• Brighter lights as crews work safely through the night.
• Occasional noise and flaring when shutting down and restarting units. Flares are the flame you may see at the top of stacks, helping to safely burn off excess gas.
• A possible glow of light from the ground flares, which minimize emissions, lower energy usage and create less low-frequency noise.

What’s been happening here in Baytown:

In early 2025, we completed a set of major turnarounds. Over two months:

• 3,500 extra workers joined the project.
• Critical units were inspected, repaired and upgraded.

In the face of long nights and extreme weather, the team achieved a safe, on-schedule event – and the improvements will help keep operations reliable for years to come.

The bottom line?

Turnarounds focus on safety, reliability and efficiency. They help us operate better and provide the fuel and products you need. We are part of this community, and we take pride in being good neighbors. Next time you see increased activity at the facility, it’s all to keep things running smoothly for everyone.

For more information on our operations, visit exxonmobil.com/baytown.