What caused the Texas City refinery explosion?

What caused the Texas City refinery explosion?

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 to BP in Texas?

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.

How many people died in Texas BP?

Fifteen workers
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. Fifteen workers were killed and 180 others were injured. Many of the victims were in or around work trailers located near an atmospheric vent stack.

Who bought BP Texas refinery?

Marathon Petroleum Corporation
BP announced today it has reached an agreement to sell its Texas City, Texas refinery and a portion of its retail and logistics network in the Southeast U.S. to Marathon Petroleum Corporation for $2.5 billion (which includes $0.6bn of cash at closing, an estimated value of $1.2bn for hydrocarbon inventories and a $0.7 …

Which is considered the worst industrial accident in United States history?

The 1947 Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the Port of Texas City, Texas, at Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest industrial accident in United States history and one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions.

How was the Texas City disaster cleaned up?

Shortly before 9:00 a.m., the captain ordered his men to steam the hold, a firefighting method where steam is piped in to extinguish fires, in order to preserve the cargo. This was unlikely to be effective, as ammonium nitrate is an oxidizer, thus neutralizing the extinguishing properties of steam.

Who owns BP Texas?

BP has completed the previously announced sale of its Texas City, Texas refinery and a portion of its retail and logistics network in the Southeast U.S. to Marathon Petroleum Corporation for an estimated $2.4 billion.

When did the BP Texas City Refinery explosion happen?

Investigation Status: The Board approved its final report by a vote of 5-0 at a public meeting in Texas City on March 20, 2007. 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.

Who was the CEO of BP in Texas City?

And it was in the temporary office trailer at the Texas City refinery that was blown apart March 23rd, 2005 where both Linda and James Rowe were killed. BP’s then CEO, Lord John Browne, visited Texas City the day after the explosion, stating the company would be assisting the injured and those who lost loved ones.

When was the Texas City oil refinery built?

The refinery was built in 1934, but had not been very well maintained for several years.

When did British Petroleum stop producing oil in Iran?

In Iran, British Petroleum continued to operate until the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The new regime of Ayatollah Khomeini nationalised all of the company’s assets in Iran without compensation, bringing to an end its 70-year presence in Iran. As a result, BP lost 40% of its global crude oil supplies.

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