What caused the BP Texas City explosion?
What caused the BP Texas City explosion?
At approximately 1:20 p.m. on March 23, 2005, a series of explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, causing a geyser-like release from the vent stack.
How did the BP oil refinery explosion happen?
On 23 March 2005, an explosion erupted at BP’s Texas City refinery, which resulted in 15 fatalities, 180 injured and $3 billion in damages and legal settlements. The explosion was caused by the overfilling of the raffinate splitter tower and a blowdown drum releasing hot hydrocarbons.
What happened at BP Texas City?
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 BP’s Texas City refinery in Texas City, Texas, killing 15 workers, injuring 180 others and severely damaging the refinery.
Why did BP sell Texas refinery?
“Together with the sale of our Carson, California refinery, announced in August, the divestment of Texas City will allow us to focus BP’s U.S. fuels investments on our three northern refineries, which are crude feedstock advantaged, and their associated marketing businesses.
Who bought BP Texas refinery?
Marathon Petroleum Corp
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Marathon Petroleum Corp MPC. N is buying BP Plc’s BP. L Texas City refinery, the site of a deadly industrial accident, in a $2.5 billion deal that will make it the No. 4 U.S. refiner with a bigger potential slice of lucrative exports.
Is BP same as marathon?
BP is a global producer, manufacturer and marketer of oil, gas, chemicals and renewable energy sources. Marathon-brand gasoline is sold through more than 5,000 independently owned retail outlets across 18 states.
When did the BP Texas City Refinery explosion happen?
At approximately 1:20 p.m. on March 23, 2005, a series of explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit.
What was the name of the refinery that exploded in 1947?
For the 1947 accident, see Texas City disaster. Fire-extinguishing operations after the Texas City refinery explosion. The large structure in the center is the raffinate splitter tower; the thinner structure to the right is the blowdown stack which overfilled.
What was the capacity of the Texas City Refinery?
The Texas City Refinery was the second-largest oil refinery in the state, and the third-largest in the United States with an input capacity of 437,000 barrels (69,500 m3) per day as of January 1, 2000. BP acquired the Texas county refinery as part of its merger with Amoco in 1999.
What was the BP prestart-up safety review?
One of the primary safety critical steps in the prestart-up process was the use of the BP Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) procedure. The purpose of the review was to ensure that complete and thorough technical checks were carried out and that all non-essential personnel were clear during the start-up operation.