West Texas Refinery 3

[gr2vessels]

Does anyone have details of the cause of explosion on Feb 19, or any source of information?
Cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[unclesyd]

Here is one of the original press releases on the incident. There hasn't been much news lately.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1817354220080219?p

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1087/

http://www.csdecisions.com/news/3122/alon-refinery-fire-under-investigation.html

 

[jistre]

Alon has not released a formal statement on this, but there is a report from an anonymous employee that claims the refinery got an uncontrollable leak in a propylene storage tank that created a vapor blanket at ground level which eventually got into an alkylation unit and a heater in the cracking unit and BOOM. The propylene unit was destroyed and the alkylation unit was pretty heavily damaged, so it fits in with the report.

It's utterly amazing that no one was killed when you look at the pictures of the refinery after the blast and see the damage.

 

[gr2vessels]

The email I've got, it claims that one operator who noticed the polypropylene cloud knee high, spreading quickly, raised the evacuation alarm, minutes or seconds before the deflagration. It was literally a window of seconds to put some distance between yourself and the epicentre of explosion. The pictures of the aftermath are horrific...
I'd be curious what has actually failed, causing the leak. I'll be involved soon in a polypropylene plant upgrade and it would be instructive to learn from a such an event.
Be safe all,
cheers,
gr2vessels

 

[roca]

Here you go - I just received this

 

[gr2vessels]

Thanks roca,
cheers, gr2vessels

 

[rmw]

That will make you want to speed up when you drive by.

rmw

 

[metengr]

I believe the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will investigate and issue a final report to the Public.