Silver Eagle restarts crude oil unit

WOODS CROSS — A Utah oil refinery has started up some operations, after a November explosion, and says things are running smoothly.

Silver Eagle Refining Inc. officials said Wednesday that they are running a low-pressure system that distills crude oil largely into paraffin wax, along with some diesel fuel and gasoline.

Silver Eagle officials say crude oil unit No. 1 was not involved in the explosion that damaged equipment and several homes in the area but caused no injuries. Company officials had accepted investigators' recommendation to shut down the refinery until it was deemed safe to reopen.

The Woods Cross refinery is now operating at half-capacity.

Market experts say the reopening of Utah's smallest refinery will have a minor effect on increasing the supply of fuel products in Utah that probably won't be noticed at the pump.