Refinery, Petrochemical and Fuel Terminal Security in the South Bay
Gate control, perimeter patrol and turnaround security for refineries, petrochemical plants and fuel terminals.
Southern California's refining base sits in a small area of Los Angeles County. According to the California Energy Commission, Marathon's Los Angeles Refinery in Carson and Wilmington processes 365,000 barrels per day, Chevron's El Segundo Refinery 269,000, PBF Energy's Torrance Refinery 160,000 and Valero's Wilmington Refinery 85,000.
These sites, along with nearby terminals, tank farms and pipelines, supply much of the region's gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Security work here is less about street crime and more about controlled access: thousands of contractors during turnarounds, truck traffic at loading racks, long fence lines next to public roads, and waterfront facilities where federal rules require a TWIC for unescorted access to secure areas. A good program supports the facility's existing security plan, keeps gate processing moving, and gives the site documented, consistent coverage.
What we protect against
- Unauthorized entry through long perimeter fences adjoining public streets and rail lines
- Contractor credential misuse and tailgating during turnarounds and maintenance outages
- Theft of copper, tools and materials from laydown yards and contractor areas
- Fuel theft and unauthorized loading at terminals and truck racks
- Trespass, protest activity and photography near sensitive process areas
- Vehicle intrusion at gates and loading areas
What we provide
- Gate posts for badge checks, vehicle inspections and visitor logging under the facility's procedures
- Turnaround and outage staffing surges for contractor processing
- Randomized armed or unarmed perimeter patrols with fence line photo reports
- Laydown yard and materials protection during maintenance projects
- TWIC credentialed officers where required for unescorted access to MTSA secure areas
- Protest, demonstration and VIP visit coverage with off duty officers
- Daily activity reports and incident documentation for site security managers
Rules and requirements
- Under 33 CFR 101.514, anyone who needs unescorted access to secure areas of facilities and vessels regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), such as marine fuel terminals, must hold a valid TWIC. People without a TWIC may enter secure areas only under the escort procedures in the facility's approved security plan, and the operator decides whether to allow escorting.
- Congress let the statutory authority for CISA's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program expire on July 28, 2023, and CISA states it cannot currently enforce the CFATS regulations. Facilities should confirm current federal requirements with their own compliance teams.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements for your license and location.
Example program with more than one officer
During a turnaround, staff two unarmed guards on each contractor gate from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. to check badges and vehicles, plus one unarmed rover in the laydown yard. Overnight, an armed officer in a patrol vehicle runs randomized perimeter loops of fence lines and tank farm roads with photo logged checks. If protest activity is expected, add off duty officers at the main entrance for the event window only rather than raising staffing site wide.
Questions we get
Do your officers have TWIC cards?
When a post requires unescorted access to secure areas of an MTSA regulated facility, we assign officers who hold a TWIC or have them credentialed before the post starts, and we plan that lead time with you.
Can you scale up for a turnaround?
Yes. Turnarounds are the main reason refineries and plants add temporary gate and rover staffing. We plan headcount by shift and gate before the outage starts.
Will you replace our in house security?
Not necessarily. Most facilities use contract officers to supplement in house teams at gates, during outages and on overnight patrols, working under the site's existing security plan.
Which officers fit
Most sites need one officer type. Larger sites and events sometimes use more than one.
Unarmed guards
Common
Unarmed guards fit most gate, badge, vehicle inspection and turnaround contractor processing roles, where the facility's plan calls for licensed but unarmed staff.
Armed guards
Primary
Armed officers fit perimeter patrol and specific posts where the facility security plan or a risk assessment calls for an armed presence.
Off duty police officers
Common
Off duty and retired officers fit protest and demonstration periods, VIP visits, and traffic control at busy gates on public streets.
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Where we cover refineries and fuel terminals
Not sure what you need? Call or text (909) 927-7001 and talk to the owner directly, or send us a few details.