Detroit Refinery
Detroit Refinery Home | Refinery Status
Overview
The Detroit Refinery, located in southwest Detroit, processes crude oil into fuels and products that support transportation, manufacturing and everyday life. The facility has a refining capacity of 146,000 barrels per calendar day, processing sweet and heavy sour crude oils into gasoline, distillates, asphalt, natural gas liquids and petrochemicals, propane and heavy fuel oil. Products are distributed via pipeline, transport truck, rail and barge.
In 2012, Marathon Petroleum completed the Detroit Heavy Oil Upgrade Project (DHOUP), expanding the Refinery’s ability to process additional heavy sour crude oils, including Canadian crude.
As part of its operations, the Detroit Refinery includes a petroleum coke processing unit (coker) that converts heavier oil components into usable products. The unit uses advanced controls designed to minimize emissions and prevent fugitive dust and has been recognized by independent experts as among the cleanest coker units in the United States.
Marathon Petroleum has also purchased many nearby residential properties and maintains the area as a green space for public use.
Health, Safety and Environment
At MPC Detroit Refinery, the health and safety of our employees, contractors, neighbors and surrounding community is our top priority. We are committed to operating safely, preventing incidents and minimizing environmental impact through strong operational standards, continuous monitoring and transparent communication.
Committed to minimizing our impact on the environment, we participate in multiple programs, support several organizations and implement various initiatives that aim to protect our environment and the local communities in which we operate.
As part of the recently approved Supplemental Environmental Project, the Detroit Refinery operates a Perimeter Air Monitoring System (PAMS) that continuously measures air quality around the facility. The system includes four monitoring stations located in and around the Refinery that operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, accessible through internet-enabled computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. It offers an easy-to-read color classification to provide a quick glance at the air quality, emission levels of four compounds, wind direction, wind speed and temperature.
PAMS measures air quality conditions and provide real-time information on select compounds, as well as wind speed, wind direction and temperature. The system was developed to support transparency and provide the community with direct access to environmental data.
Detroit Refinery is the only privately operated facility in Southwest Detroit providing a real-time, public-facing air monitoring system.
Explore our Conserving Natural Resources” report for a look at our commitments to minimizing our environmental impact and reducing our footprint.
Awards and Accolades
Below is a list of recent accolades and accomplishments from the Detroit Refinery.
2025 Distinguished Safety Award – American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers: The association’s highest safety honor, which goes to facilities that demonstrate exemplary safety performance, program innovation and safety leadership. Only one of seven refineries to win two years in a row.
2024 Distinguished Safety Award – American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers: The association’s highest safety honor, which goes to facilities that demonstrate exemplary safety performance, program innovation and safety leadership.
2022 ENERGY STAR® certification – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Signifies energy efficiency performance in the top 25% of similar facilities nationwide.
2021 Innovation Award – American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers: Honored the Refinery’s development of several smartphone apps to help operators work more safely.
2020 Elite Gold Safety Award – American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers: Recognizes safety performance in the top 5% of the industry.
Community
At Marathon Petroleum, we know that community is important. It's why we do what we do every day. So, aside from fueling the Detroit area, we also make it a priority to be actively involved in efforts that have a positive impact on the community. Listed below are some of the ways we do just that.
Notable grants:
- Habitat for Humanity: $320,000 in 2025 to help provide critical home repairs in Detroit’s Boynton community to improve safety, accessibility, energy efficiency and home value.
- Wayne State University's Detroit Youth Service Corps: $200,000 in 2024 to support programs that foster volunteerism among young adults as well as helps them build soft skills and explore career possibilities.
- Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency: $195,000 in 2024 to help provide a range of services to low-income and moderate-income residents, including housing counseling, financial counseling and financial assistance with utilities, clothing and food.
- Detroit Public Safety Foundation: Since 2022, the refinery has provided more than $263,000 for programs that promote public safety in support of the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Fire Department. Among other aid, the funding has delivered mountain bikes for police officers to use for community patrols.
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