BP Refinery Blast: Array of agencies launch investigations

24 March 2005 22:29  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (CNI)--Several government agencies are investigating the cause of the Wednesday explosion that killed 15 workers at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Texas state agencies are involved in the probe, reporters were told Thursday.

 

John Miles, regional administrator for OSHA, said a team of six OSHA investigators were involved in the probe. He said the agency will have six months to complete its investigation.

 

BP spokesman Bill Stephens said the EPA had performed an air sample inventory of the area but did not detect any harmful substances.

 

Stephens said a team of BP investigators planned to begin examining the cause of the blast within 24 hours.

 

John Bresland, board member of the CSB, said a team of 7-8 CSB members planned to probe the accident. He said it was possible the agency would take a year to produce a report containing findings and recommendations.

 

The refinery’s isomerisation unit, which is used to increase the octane level of gasoline, exploded Wednesday, killing 15 and sending nearly 100 people to nearby hospitals. Most of the patients have been released but some remain at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, in critical or serious condition.

 

The refinery remained in operation despite the shutdown of its isomerisation unit. The refinery can process up to 460,000 bbl/day of crude oil.

 

Stephens said the refinery “is the most complex refinery by a factor of two in the world.”

By: Brian Ford
+1 713 525 2653

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