Refinery Explosion

Torf · 03-23-2005, 05:30 PM

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4311459/detail.html

I guess I am officially counting down the days before my Prius arrives, and not looking forward to more jumps in the gas price.

Too bad 14 are dead. Prayers for the families!

jayman · 03-23-2005, 05:44 PM

I've done process control work at oil refineries. Once you know how the distillation columns and hydrocracker work, you quickly realize there is NO margin for error.

One serious process upset, a surge in a process network, or one obvious spark, and BOOM.

DaveinOlyWA · 03-23-2005, 05:59 PM

wow what a bummer~!

most refineries have improved their safety records dramatically from the 30's when refinery explosions happened a half dozen times a year.

when refining oil, they found that putting the boilers under very high pressure enabled them to break hydrocarbon chains at much lower temperatures which saved a lot of money in fuel costs.

that process also dramatically lowered the flash point of the vapors creating a situation where even the smallest leak of oxygen into the mix results in explosions.

jayman · 03-23-2005, 06:45 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA\";p=\"75126)</div>

Quote:

that process also dramatically lowered the flash point of the vapors creating a situation where even the smallest leak of oxygen into the mix results in explosions.[/b]

David:

Yep any oxidizer becomes a catastrophe in the blink of an eye. The petrochemical field really pushed the development of Intrinsically Safe process devices.

It has been mentioned that if Intrinsically Safe devices had been in the center fuel tank of that TWA 800 flight, the explosion wouldn't have happened.

Prius_Jeff · 03-23-2005, 07:11 PM

This is truely a tragedy for all involved. My prayers are with them.

DaveinOlyWA · 03-23-2005, 09:18 PM

just heard a blurb on the national news about the explosion. the refinery provides 30% of the north american supply for BP oil and 3% of the total US supply.

guess it couldnt have happened at a worse time. i pray that we dont find out later the explosion resulted from pressure to increase output. that would be unforgiveable

Torf · 03-24-2005, 09:34 AM

Update: 14 now dead.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-24-2005, 01:56 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA\";p=\"75214)</div>

Quote:

i pray that we dont find out later the explosion resulted from pressure to increase output. that would be unforgiveable[/b]

Wasn't the Titanic cruising faster than it should have been because of pressure to get to New York ahead of schedule? Sounds similar to me. A decision made to push the envelope of performance resulting in catastrophic consequences.

Torf · 03-24-2005, 03:16 PM

It may be a bit too early to start blaming Greed/Corporate America/Haliburton/Karl Rove at this point.

Refining oil into it's different products is not exactly a "safe" thing. After all, it contains a LOT of energy, and many of the byproducts are extremely dangerous. Fractional Distillation requires heat to begin with, so it is an inherently dangerous situation. Ammo Plants, Coal Mines, Electrical Grids, Airplane Cockpits, etc, are all quite unforgiving places to be in the event of a serious human error.

bookrats · 03-24-2005, 03:37 PM

I haven't verified this, but a friend who has done more reading on the explosion said that it may not cripple the plant for very long.

He said that the explosion occured in the part of the plant that makes high-octane fuel. Don't know if the production of less high-octane fuel would be able to resume sooner -- i.e., was this a key component for the production of other types of fuel.

03-23-2005, 05:30 PM	#1
Torf Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 27 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Refinery Explosion http://www.click2houston.com/news/4311459/detail.html I guess I am officially counting down the days before my Prius arrives, and not looking forward to more jumps in the gas price. Too bad 14 are dead. Prayers for the families!

03-23-2005, 05:44 PM	#2
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 6,153 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Re: Refinery Explosion I've done process control work at oil refineries. Once you know how the distillation columns and hydrocracker work, you quickly realize there is NO margin for error. One serious process upset, a surge in a process network, or one obvious spark, and BOOM.

03-24-2005, 09:34 AM	#7
Torf Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 27 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Refinery Explosion Update: 14 now dead.

03-24-2005, 03:16 PM	#9
Torf Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 27 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Refinery Explosion It may be a bit too early to start blaming Greed/Corporate America/Haliburton/Karl Rove at this point. Refining oil into it's different products is not exactly a "safe" thing. After all, it contains a LOT of energy, and many of the byproducts are extremely dangerous. Fractional Distillation requires heat to begin with, so it is an inherently dangerous situation. Ammo Plants, Coal Mines, Electrical Grids, Airplane Cockpits, etc, are all quite unforgiving places to be in the event of a serious human error.

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03-23-2005, 05:59 PM	#3
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,241 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	wow what a bummer~! most refineries have improved their safety records dramatically from the 30's when refinery explosions happened a half dozen times a year. when refining oil, they found that putting the boilers under very high pressure enabled them to break hydrocarbon chains at much lower temperatures which saved a lot of money in fuel costs. that process also dramatically lowered the flash point of the vapors creating a situation where even the smallest leak of oxygen into the mix results in explosions.

03-23-2005, 07:11 PM	#5
Prius_Jeff Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This is truely a tragedy for all involved. My prayers are with them.

03-23-2005, 09:18 PM	#6
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,241 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	just heard a blurb on the national news about the explosion. the refinery provides 30% of the north american supply for BP oil and 3% of the total US supply. guess it couldnt have happened at a worse time. i pray that we dont find out later the explosion resulted from pressure to increase output. that would be unforgiveable

03-24-2005, 03:37 PM	#10
bookrats Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 2,843 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I haven't verified this, but a friend who has done more reading on the explosion said that it may not cripple the plant for very long. He said that the explosion occured in the part of the plant that makes high-octane fuel. Don't know if the production of less high-octane fuel would be able to resume sooner -- i.e., was this a key component for the production of other types of fuel.