BP reports leak at Texas refinery

10 April 2007 20:49  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--A catalyst leak at BP’s Texas refinery in Texas City prompted the city to issue a temporary shelter-in-place alert, the city police department said on Tuesday.

City officials lifted the early afternoon shelter-in-place order after about 45 minutes after the leak stopped.

The leak involved a catalyst material, which is a form of clay or dust, a police spokesman said.

The material can be an irritant for people with asthma or other breathing problems, the spokesman said.

A BP spokesperson said the leak occurred at the facility’s Cat 3 unit after a power outage caused a unit upset. Unit personnel were evacuated during the leak, the spokesperson said.

The unit had been shut down for maintenance, the spokesperson said.

(Additional reporting by Brian Ford)

By: Heather McGuire Doyle
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