A 2005 blast that killed 15 at a texas bp refinery in 2005 holds many. Coon represented many of the victims of the march 2005 explosion at bps refinery in texas city, near houston. The texas city refinery was the secondlargest oil refinery in the state, and the thirdlargest in the. Texas city refinery explosion on march 23, 2005, a fire and explosion occurred at bps texas city refinery in texas city, texas, killing 15 workers and injuring more than 170 others. Process safety performance cannot be measured using ltis this case study could be used to trigger some useful, practical discussions with your offshore employees.
The bp texas city refinery disaster, respected ohs expert professor andrew hopkins discusses the causes of a major explosion at the texas city oil refinery on march 23, 2005, that killed 15 workers and injured more than 170 others. An animated reconstruction of the startup of the isomerization unit at the bp texas city refinery. The success of the refinery and the jobs it provided caused the population of texas city to skyrocket. Bp texas city clean air act settlement enforcement us epa. Board operator closed this control valve in manual. On march 23, 2005, the bp texas city refinery experienced a. Valeros texas city refinery hit by explosion, fire reuters. Gooseneck piping and manual block valve chainedlocked open. Sulfur dioxide a pollutant regulated by the epa and linked to respiratory issues. It has been more than 10 years since the explosion at the bp texas city refinery, and the csb still believes that continued safety improvements are needed across the industry in order to prevent similar accidents from occurring. Britains bp, owner of the texas city plant, said terrorism was not thought to be responsible for the blast, which shook buildings five miles 8km away.
Dec 05, 2009 texas refinery explosion kills 1, injures 2 2 min read houston reuters one person was killed and two injured in a friday night explosion at valero energy corps refinery in texas city, texas. Jun 16, 2010 coon represented many of the victims of the march 2005 explosion at bps refinery in texas city, near houston. On march 23, 2005 an explosion rocked the bp texas city refinery, 1 killing 15 people and injuring 180 after the blowdown drum of the isomerization unit overflowed loss of containment of hydrocarbons, and a heat source ignited the ensuing vapors resulting in an explosion and subsequent pool fire. Four of the refineries were acquired through bps mergers with the former. Explosion hits valeros texas city refinery news the. The csb report found that bp had failed to heed or implement safety recommendations made before the blast. Bp close to sale of texas city refinery business the. Participatory action researchers conducted a nationwide mailback survey of united steelworkers local unions and collected data from 51 unionized refineries. The blast killed 15 workers and injured 180, with many of.
A detailed study of the events leading up to the bp texas city refinery explosion of 2005. S, this explosion was particularly damaging due to most of the 15 deaths being nonessential personnel that were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Litigation is still ongoing for this incident, which was preventable. A dynamic hazop case study using the texas city refinery. Investigators in texas are trying to find out what caused a huge explosion at an oil refinery that killed at least 14 people and injured more than 100. Participatory action researchers conducted a nationwide mailback survey of united steelworkers local unions and collected data from 51. Bp was charged with criminal violations of federal environmental laws, and has been subject to. Following the explosion and fire, epa conducted a series of inspections to determine bps compliance with the terms of a 2001 consent decree requiring the texas city refinery, as well as bps other u.
The bp refinery in texas city extends over nearly two square miles on the outskirts of galveston. Bp was charged with criminal violations of federal environmental laws, and has been subject to lawsuits from the victims families. Explosion at bp refinery, texas city, texas 2005 csb maintains an extensive video presence at csb. Texas city plant hsse manager truly believe that we are on the verge of. It does not describe in any detail the conflicts and the mistakes made during the 23rd, march 2005 and as a reference it is inadequate. After the bpamoco merger in 1999, the texas city refinery.
By erin soden, sfsu, 2017 march 23rd, 2005 marked yet another environmental injustice for texas city, texas. On march 23, 2005, bp employees and contract workers. Mar 23, 2005 media in category texas city refinery explosion the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. No one was injured in a large explosion and fire at a texas city refinery thursday afternoon, officials said. On march 23, 2005, a fire and explosion occurred at bps texas city refinery in texas city, texas, killing 15 workers and injuring more than 170 others.
The march 2005 british petroleum bp texas city refinery disaster provided a stimulus to examine the state of process safety in the u. Explosion at bp refinery, texas city, texas internet archive. Nbc4 refinery explosion in texas city, texas facebook. Billions in debt, south philly refinery avoided air regulations, records show nbc10 philadelphia duration. For safety inspector charles ramirez, march 23 got off to a good start. The british petroleum bp refinery in texas city, texas is the third largest oil refinery plant in the u. Essay bp texas city oil refinery explosion 2005 case summary. The refinery, the companys largest worldwide, can produce about 10 million gallons of gasoline per day about 2. For the 2005 oil refinery fire, see texas city refinery explosion.
The texas city refinery is bps largest and most complex oil refinery, with a rated capacity. Texas city, texas the lone worker unaccounted for after an explosion at a bp oil refinery has died, raising the death toll to 15 in a blast that also injured more than 100 people, officials. In one of the largest oil refineries in texas city, on march 23, 2005, the explosion and fire took place, which took away 15 lives, injured over 170 people, and obligated thousands residents that lived close to the plant to stay in their homes. Back to gallery no one was injured in a large explosion and fire at a texas city refinery thursday afternoon, officials said. Process safety performance cannot be measured using ltis. Bp took its name from the initials of the companys previous official name british petroleum.
Operations include crude distillation, catalytic cracking, alkylation, reforming, aromatics extraction and sulfur recovery. Background the texas city refinery is bps largest and most complex oil refinery with a rated capacity of 460,000 barrels per day bpd and an ability to produce about 11 million gallons of gasoline a day. Bp texas city oil refinery explosion 2005 case summary. Baker report average rate of overtime at texas city was. March 23rd, 2005 marked yet another environmental injustice for texas city, texas. The texas city bp refinery explosion seems to have all the worst. Explosion in the british petroleum texas city refinery. Pdf on wednesday, march 23 2005, numerous explosions, and a fire. Texas city refinery 2 years ago tomorrow, killing 15 workers and. This texas city refinery article does not do justice to the excellent narrative detailed in the cbs investigation report report no. Blast at bp texas refinery in 05 foreshadowed gulf propublica. The company was trying to persuade everyone that it was an environmental friendly company that was using and develop. Explosion, large fire at texas city plant houston chronicle. Csb chairman moureeraso believes that current federal and state regulations do not focus enough on preventative.
Failure to learn also analyses the similarities between this event and the longford gas plant explosion in victoria in 1998, featured in his. The explosion on thursday is thought to have occurred at the sites 12,000 bbld alkylation unit, reuters reports. Apr 20, 2018 explosion, large fire at texas city plant. This article needs additional citations for verification. The texas city disaster was an industrial accident that occurred april 16, 1947, in the port of texas city, texas, at galveston bay.
Professionalismbp texas city refinery explosion wikibooks. On wednesday, march 23 2005, numerous explosions, and a fire, occurred at bp texas city refinery, texas, usa. Valeros texas city refinery hit by explosion, fire aol news. Local fire department units were responding at the texas city refinery. Kiewit offshore services fabricated 39 refinery modules at the ingleside facility to alleviate the workforce needed on site at the texas city refinery 2010. Refinery explosion and fire, texas city, texas, march 23, 2005 open pdf 7 mb the u. The texas city disaster was an industrial accident that occurred april 16, 1947, in the port of.
Chemical safety and hazard investigation board csb investigated not only bps safety performance at texas city, but also the role played by bp group management, based in london, england. A fire and explosion were reported thursday afternoon at one of san antoniobased valero energy corp. In 1991, the amoco refining planning department proposed eliminating blowdown systems that vented to the atmosphere, but funding for this plan was not included in the. Introduction during the startup of the isomerization unit isom on wednesday, march 23, 2005 following a temporary outage, explosions and fires occurred which killed fifteen and harmed over 170 persons in the bp texas city refinery, texas, owned and operated by bp products north america. Earlier this week there were reports of a leak at the bp refinery in texas city, texas, just outside of galveston. The texas city refinery explosion occurred on march 23, 2005, when a hydrocarbon vapour cloud exploded at the isom isomerization process unit at bps texas city refinery in texas city, texas. The results predicted by all three approaches are similar and all approaches identified a hazard potential comparable to what was witnessed on march 23, 2005. Bp documents highlight pr strategy after deadly texas blast. The blast killed 15 workers and injured 180, with many of the survivors suffering.
An explosion and fire has hit valero energys 225,000 bbld texas city refinery, with no injuries reported. Mar 24, 2005 texas city the only worker still missing after the explosion of bps texas city refinery was found dead in the plants rubble today, bringing the death toll to 15. Modeling of bp texas city refinery incident sciencedirect. Texas refinery explosion kills 1, injures 2 2 min read houston reuters one person was killed and two injured in a friday night explosion at valero energy corps refinery in. This paper presents detailed modeling results of the bp texas city refinery incident. The current settlement addresses violations identified during those post. Texas city, texas ever since the deepwater horizon exploded in the gulf of. Due to lack of funding and focus on safety, employees were often undertrained and lacked adequate supervision for process startup or changeover. The explosions and fire occurred during startup of an isomerization unit at the refinery.
The incident was an explosion caused by heavierthanair hydrocarbon vapors combusting. Accidental short report on texas city refinery explosion 2005. Bp documents highlight pr strategy after deadly texas. Plant employees at the time had been working 12hour days for 30 days in a row, often with 2 hour commutes. The texas city refinery has a refinery capacity of 84,000 bpd. Texas refinery explosion kills 1, injures 2 reuters. Firefighters pour water on the smoldering isom unit following the explosion that rocked the bp refinery wednesday, march 23, 2005, in texas city. Chemical safety and hazard investigation board explosion at bp refinery, texas city, texas 2005 csb maintains an extensive video presence at csb. Human errors also played a major role in the texas city refinery explosion. The texas tribune and the houston chronicle spent two months examining whether the nations oil refineries learned the lessons of the deadly explosion at bps texas city refinery in 2005 one of the most studied industrial accidents in u. Explosion, fire at valeros texas city refinery san antonio. In 1991, the amoco refining planning department proposed eliminating blowdown systems that vented to the atmosphere, but funding for this plan was not included in the budget.
The enormous bp amoco oil refinery in texas city was built in 1934 by a company called panamerican refinery, which was at the time a subsidiary of standard oil of indiana. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Apr 19, 2018 a fire and explosion were reported thursday afternoon at one of san antoniobased valero energy corp. Bp corporate and texas city refinery background on march 23, 2005, an explosion and fires occurred at the bp refinery in texas city, texas, 30 miles southeast of houston. Explosion, fire at valeros texas city refinery san.
It was reportedly heard 8km away and shook buildings within 1. Infrastructure at texas city was in compete decline. S, this explosion was particularly damaging due to most of the 15 deaths being nonessential personnel that were in. The board approved its final report by a vote of 50 at a public meeting in texas city on march 20, 2007. Three different approaches and explosion modeling tools were used to study the event.
Apr 19, 2018 fortunately, all workers were accounted for. The texas city refinery explosion occurred on march 23, 2005, when a hydrocarbon vapor cloud was ignited and violently exploded at the isom isomerization process unit at bps texas city refinery in texas city, texas, killing 15 workers, injuring 180 others and severely damaging the refinery. Nov 05, 2015 the texas city refinery explosion occurred on march 23, 2005, when a hydrocarbon vapour cloud exploded at the isom isomerization process unit at bps texas city refinery in texas city, texas. Texas city the only worker still missing after the explosion of bps texas city refinery was found dead in the plants rubble today, bringing the death toll to 15. Theres been a refinery explosion in texas city, texas. Baker panel report on texas city accident nancy leveson mit.
Bp says it is in advanced talks with potential purchasers for its texas city refinery one of its most troubled assets and is expecting to sell it before the end of the year shares in. This is a pdf file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. Bp texas explosion free download as powerpoint presentation. The texas city refinery explosion occurred on march 23, 2005, when a hydrocarbon vapor. An explosion set off a huge fire at valero energy corps 225,000 barrelperday bpd texas city, texas, refinery on thursday afternoon but the fire was quickly contained, according the city of. A midmorning fire started on board the frenchregistered vessel ss grandcamp docked in the port, and detonated her cargo of approximately 2,200 tons. Stories by jim malewitz, lise olsen and mark collette with research and assistance. British petroleum company and texas city refinery background.
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