MOBIL CITES CAUSE OF REFINERY BLAST

Mobil Oil Corp. blames a natural gas liquids pipeline flange negligently left open for an Oct. 19, 1994, explosion and fire at its Torrance, Calif., refinery that injured 28 persons.

Dec. 26, 1994

Mobil Oil Corp. blames a natural gas liquids pipeline flange negligently left open for an Oct. 19, 1994, explosion and fire at its Torrance, Calif., refinery that injured 28 persons.

The open flange on the 6 in. line leaked light ends, forming a vapor cloud that ignited. Mobil found serious violations of the refinery's lockout/tagout procedure and fired or disciplined five of its employees for failing to check the system thoroughly prior to start-up. It blamed the "root cause" on a subcontractor, IST Mechanical Corp., Carson, Calif. Mobil claims IST employees removed isolation blinds, unlocked three isolation block valves, and "should have completed a thorough inspection" after rerouting the line to a drying device. IST disagreed with certain Mobil conclusions but withheld specifics pending its investigation.

Issue date: 12/26/94