Pennzoil refinery explosion kills three

Oct. 30, 1995
Major processing units in Pennzoil Co.'s Rouseville, Pa., refinery escaped damage in an Oct. 16 explosion that killed three persons and injured four. The accident damaged equipment that included tanks, piping, and electrical lines in the area of the fire. Some elements of a wax plant construction project also were damaged. Pennzoil estimated it will resume full operations in 4-6 weeks at the 15,700 b/d plant.

Major processing units in Pennzoil Co.'s Rouseville, Pa., refinery escaped damage in an Oct. 16 explosion that killed three persons and injured four.

The accident damaged equipment that included tanks, piping, and electrical lines in the area of the fire. Some elements of a wax plant construction project also were damaged. Pennzoil estimated it will resume full operations in 4-6 weeks at the 15,700 b/d plant.

The company's announcement of damage and operating plans did not disclose casualties among workers. That disclosure came from the Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Union (OCAW), Lakewood, Colo. It said the accident showed that a federally funded Chemical Accident Safety Board is needed to find causes of such events.

OCAW did not say whether hydrocarbon processing accidents will place improvement in safety programs among labor's goals in its negotiation of labor contracts with U.S. industry (OGJ, Sept. 25, p. 35). Copyright 1995 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.