CSB Finishes Valero Blast Investigation; Cause of Pipe Rupture Still Unknown

May 25, 2006
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) says it will not conduct any further investigations into the May 20 explosion and fire that shut down a diesel fuel production unit at Valero Energy Corp.'s St. Charles refinery near New Orleans.

On May 20, a 12-inch overhead pipe ruptured in the refinery's hydrotreater, a unit that uses hydrogen to remove sulfur from a hydrocarbon feedstock. The rupture of the pipe caused a loud boom and began releasing flammable gaseous hydrocarbons at a temperature high enough to cause spontaneous ignition.

No one was injured by the explosion or in the subsequent fire.

After completing its 2-day assessment of the incident, CSB said that the fire destroyed two fan-type heat exchangers and an approximately 50-foot section of piping. The electrical conduit also was damaged by radiant heat.

According to the CSB, however, no blast damage was observed.

CSB lead investigator John Vordebrueggen said Valero personnel have cooperated fully with the investigation team.

"Valero has assembled an incident investigation team to identify the proximate causes and more importantly, any management system deficiencies that contributed to the incident," Vordebrueggen said. "Valero management has committed to sharing the recommended corrective actions and program improvement throughout the company's global refining operations."

Although CSB board member Gary Visscher cautioned that the cause of the pipe rupture has not been determined, he did noted that there have been a number of past cases of corrosion-related failures in refinery hydrotreater units.

"While this incident fortunately caused no injuries, it is important to carefully maintain the integrity of piping that contains hazardous substances through rigorous inspection and testing," he said.

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!