Why did the Texas City refinery explode?
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 oil refinery blew up?
Firefighters battled to contain the fire at the Balongan refinery in West Java, operated by the state oil company, Pertamina, as towering plumes of black smoke rose into the sky. “There was a very loud sound and I thought it was a hurricane,” Rumaji, a local resident, said. “I looked outside and the fire was huge.
How do oil explode?
Fires. Due to the large amounts of stored oil, fire is always the #1 threat to cause an explosion. Oil and its byproducts are highly flammable, and it only takes a small spark to ignite it—putting all workers in danger. If a single spark is exposed to the fuel on an oil platform, it can start a rapid-fire breakout.
What triggers an explosion?
What Causes Explosions? An explosion is a rapid expansion of gases. Many explosions occur when gases are exposed to a source of heat- such as fire, sparks, even static elec- tricity-or an increase in pressure. Explosions can also be caused by chemical reactions.
How much did the Texas City refinery explosion cost?
It cost nearly $450 million, including $2 million in fines and restitution, and led to a $447 million in increase in gas prices. The March 23, 2005, explosion at the BP Texas City Refinery in Texas City, Texas killed 15 workers and injured 180 more. Financial losses in the incident totaled $1.5 billion.
When did BP Buy Texas 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 City refinery as part of its merger with Amoco in 1999.
What happened in Texas refinery explosion?
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.
Can oil wells explode?
Although less common, blowouts still occur. The Deepwater Horizon disaster was caused by an underwater blowout. Fires are another main cause of oil well explosions. Fires could be the result of an accident, arson, or natural occurrence.