Propane inventories are “plentiful” this year as we approach the winter season, in contrast to the usual tight propane supply the U.S. has experienced for the past few years, said Ron Gist, senior principal at Purvin & Gertz Inc.

Gist presented an outlook on propane supply and demand for the National Association of State Energy Officials’ conference on winter fuels Oct. 6.

Propane should be easy to come by this winter partly because gas processing did not suffer as many issues as a result of hurricanes. Last year, hurricanes Ike and Gustav impacted processing, and, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina disrupted operations.

Sunoco, Inc. last week announced that it is indefinitely idling all process units at its Eagle Point refinery located in Westville, New Jersey, “in an effort to reduce losses in its refining business when a recessionary economy, weak demand for refined products, and increased global refining capacity have created margin pressure on the entire refining industry.”

The company said it will shift production from the Eagle Point facility to its two nearby refineries in Marcus Hook and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which will now operate at higher capacity utilization. Sunoco reported it will be able to produce essentially the same amount of refined products in two facilities that it currently produces in three while continuing to meet customer demand.

Refined products storage and handling at the Eagle Point refinery will continue and the products rack, operated by Sunoco Logistics Partners, L.P., will remain open.