BP to issue refinery investigation report

Aug. 24, 2005
BP PLC said it would issue a final incident investigation report in late September identifying the underlying causes of the Mar. 23 explosion at the company's Texas City, Tex., refinery, which killed 15 persons (OGJ, May 23, 2005, p. 37).

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 24 -- BP PLC said it would issue a final incident investigation report in late September identifying the underlying causes of the Mar. 23 explosion at the company's Texas City, Tex., refinery, which killed 15 persons (OGJ, May 23, 2005, p. 37).

BP earlier this month agreed to follow a recommendation by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) to appoint an independent panel to review the safety management systems and corporate safety culture of BP Products North America Inc., the unit responsible for the company's five US refineries. The panel, headed by an external chairperson and including outside safety experts and BP staff representatives, will make the findings public, BP said.

The explosion, which BP called "the worst tragedy in the recent history of BP," was followed this summer by three other explosions or fires at various BP facilities, including one at the same Texas City facility (OGJ Online, July 29, 2005).

CSB also is investigating the incidents, along with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

BP has taken a number of corrective actions to avoid other incidents. It has appointed new managers, clarified procedures and accountability responsibilities, and initiated actions to ensure procedure compliance.

The company said it will cease venting heavier-than-air hydrocarbon vapors from blowdown drums and stacks, is enforcing a prohibition of office trailers within 500 ft of blowdown stacks and flares, and has leased offsite office space for employees not required at the refinery.

In addition, the four Texas City refinery units operating at above 1,000 psi have been taken out of service and are undergoing a complete analysis to determine their safety.