Post on 20-Dec-2015
P&ID Safety Case StudyTexas City Refinery Disaster
Narrated by Kevin Lin and Eric Gauthier
www.chron.com www.chron.com
Plant Background
Texas City460,000 barrels/day11 million gallons
1800 employees
1200 acres
Operation Unit
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Operation Unit
Raffinate Splitter
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Operation Unit
Raffinate Splitter
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
Operation Unit
Raffinate Splitter Blowdown Drum
Stack
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
Disaster Strikes
• Isomerization Unit
• Overflow of Distillation Tower– Overpressurization– Flooding with hydrocarbons
• 15 workers killed
• 180 injured
www.economist.com
www.wikipedia.org
What Went Wrong?
Raffinate Splitter Blowdown Drum
Stack
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
What Went Wrong?
Raffinate Splitter Blowdown Drum
Stack
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
What Went Wrong?
Raffinate Splitter Blowdown Drum
Stack
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
What Went Wrong?
Raffinate Splitter Blowdown Drum
Stack
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
5x9000 gallon tanker trucks
What Went Wrong?
Raffinate Splitter Blowdown Drum
Stack
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/us/bp_us_english/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/t/final_appendix_01_08.pdfPg A-11
Relief Valves
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www.economist.com
Blog.kir.com
www.weldreality.com
Prevention Measures—Engineering • Improve Process Control
– Automated emergency shutdown system
• Location of Relief Valve– Top of tower for greater control of vaporization
• Blowdown/Stack Flare Relief System
Prevention Measures—Human Control
• Positive Work Enviroment• Management Enforcement Of:
– Process safety– Operations performance– Systematic risk reduction
• Training
Remember, YOU are responsible for maintaining a safe
workplace!!