Refineries

Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery

Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery The Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery in northeastern Kentucky was the flagship refinery of Ashland Oil Company, operating on the banks of the Big Sandy River. Workers at this facility were exposed to asbestos-containing materials used in insulation and process components for over five decades.

Last verified: 2026-03-09

Legal & editorial

Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm)

Editorial Policy & Advisory Board

Location: Catlettsburg, KY
Industry: Petroleum Refining
Exposure Era: 1920s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products: Pipe insulation, Gaskets, Valve packing, Boiler insulation, Heat exchangers
Job Categories at Risk: Refinery operators, Pipe fitters, Insulators, Boilermakers, Maintenance workers

History & Asbestos Use

Ashland Oil Company (later Ashland Inc.) established its refinery in Catlettsburg, Kentucky in 1924 along the Big Sandy River at the confluence with the Ohio River. The refinery was the company flagship facility and a major employer in the tri-state area of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio. The refinery is now operated by Marathon Petroleum following the 2005 formation of Marathon Petroleum Corporation from Ashland refining assets. Asbestos was used throughout the facility from the 1920s through the late 1970s.

Exposure Details

Asbestos insulation covered the piping, boilers, heat exchangers, and process vessels throughout the Catlettsburg Refinery. Workers performing routine maintenance and turnaround operations disturbed asbestos-containing materials on a regular basis, particularly in the older sections of the facility. The refinery tri-state workforce drew workers from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio, spreading the impact of asbestos exposure across a wide geographic area.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

Refinery operators
Pipe fitters
Insulators
Boilermakers
Maintenance workers

Health Effects

Former Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery workers have developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer from their occupational exposure. The refinery role as the primary industrial employer in the area means that asbestos-related disease has had a significant impact on the local community. Workers employed during the peak asbestos era of the 1940s through 1970s face the highest risk of developing asbestos-related disease.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

2 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery?

Workers who were employed at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery between 1920s–1970s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Frequently Asked Questions

Who operates the old Ashland Oil refinery in Catlettsburg now?

The Catlettsburg refinery is now operated by Marathon Petroleum Corporation, which acquired Ashland refining assets. Asbestos exposure claims from the Ashland Oil era may involve both Marathon as the current operator and Ashland successor entities.

What trades had the highest asbestos exposure at the Catlettsburg Refinery?

Insulators, pipe fitters, boilermakers, and maintenance workers faced the highest levels of asbestos exposure. These workers directly handled asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and packing materials during construction, maintenance, and repair operations throughout the refinery.

Are workers from the tri-state area eligible for asbestos claims?

Yes. Workers from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio who were employed at the Catlettsburg Refinery and exposed to asbestos may file legal claims regardless of their state of residence. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can advise on jurisdiction and applicable laws for your specific situation.

I worked here but I have no employment records. Does that end it?

No. Missing paperwork is normal after this long, and it is not what decides a claim. A Social Security earnings statement lists every employer you had, by year, and can usually be requested directly. Union records, W-2s and a DD-214 for military service do similar work. Coworkers who were there can also confirm conditions. What matters most is what you remember, written down in your own words.

My father or husband worked here and has since died. Can the family still file?

Yes. A wrongful death claim can be brought by the estate or eligible family members, and it is a separate route from a claim the patient would have brought themselves. It also runs on a different clock: the deadline generally starts at the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis, which means families are sometimes still in time when they assume they are not. Deadlines are set by each state, so confirm the one that applies to yours.

I never worked here, but a family member did. Could I have been exposed?

Possibly. Asbestos fibres travelled home on work clothes, in hair and in vehicles, and household members were exposed while washing laundry or greeting someone at the end of a shift. This is called secondhand or take-home exposure and it is a recognised route to a claim in its own right, not an exception. If you are documenting a family member's work history, write down your own contact with their work clothing as well.

Did you work at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery? Write this down now

You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis, or a decision to do this. You need a piece of paper. Memory is the part of a claim nobody else can reconstruct for you, and it is the part that fades.

The years you worked there — approximate is fine, and a range is fine
Your trade or job title, and what you actually did day to day
Which building, unit, ship or area you spent your time in
Who else was there — names of crew, foremen, or anyone who could confirm it later
Anything you remember about the materials — write what you recall on your own, before looking anything up. Details you remember unprompted are the ones that hold up years later when you are asked under oath. Details you read on a website do not.

If you are doing this for a relative who has died, write down what you remember too, including work clothes brought home to be washed. Household exposure is a real claim, not an edge case.

Worked at Ashland Oil Catlettsburg Refinery? Tell us the years and your trade

That is usually enough to work out which claims are open to you — trust funds, a lawsuit, or VA benefits if the exposure happened in service. You do not need records, dates you are certain of, or the name of a product. If you are asking on behalf of someone who has died, a family member can file and the deadline runs differently. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything today.

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Sources:

EPA records — accessed 2026-03-09
OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection — accessed 2026-03-09

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