Man Sought for Photographing Texas City Refineries

my way news ^ | Jul 19, 2:57 PM (ET) | HOUSTON (Reuters)

[philman_36]

BTW...
It would only take a small bomb in the right spot to simulate a tactical nuke.
That applies for just about every refinery/chemical plant I've ever worked in.
You should see some of the nasty stuff I had to work around once in DuPont's Bell, WV chemical plant!

[TXBSAFH]

I think you will ahve a hard time beating TEAL (Tri Etheyl Aluminum Alkiles). This stuff auto ignites when it touches water. The problem is that the water in the air is enough to make it go boom.

[philman_36]

I worked on the biggest d@mn heat exchangers I'd ever seen at the time there...what a nightmare! Two 20 tons just to pull one bundle.
My two helpers were housing carpenters! Best helpers I ever had! They did everything I said 'cause they knew nothing. It actually went fairly well!
Can't say I saw dirt that burned, but I may have been at a different area.

[fivecatsandadog]

Why don't these places have web cams set up so they can get a better look at these people who are taking pictures.

Good question.

[philman_36]

TEAL
Don't remember ever working in a unit making that...but there have been so many over the years. I think I'd have remembered that though. That kind of thing sticks with you. Like the units with hydrogen that I've been in. Most things that go boom kind of stay with you.
I worked a Gas-Con unit and we had to keep watering the bundles after we pulled them or they ignited into fire when they hit the atmosphere. (before MSDSs were around so I could've been working in that mess after all and just not known it).
I forget the name of that stuff in WV now (too many years ago), but the operator said that if that gas hit the atmosphere it could kill everyone in the valley if the wind was blowing right.

[Redbob]

I've also taken pictures of refineries, at night, down around Brownsville, because they do indeed look cool, like no other industrial plant I've seen.

[daybreakcoming]

You too? I was exploring the streets around my hotel in Paris in 95 taking pictures of unique buildings. Went down a dead end street and suddenly black suits were all around me. Seems there was a top level meeting (probably Saddam & Chirac) going on
and I had somehow made it through their perimeter. As soon as they realized I was American - all was OK (yeah, those were the good ol days)

[TXBSAFH]

I moved up into operations, but quit after 37 months. 37 months and seven major fires I had to fight. It got to the point where I had thoughts of seeking absolution before going to work. I am now in computers.

[TXBSAFH]

Teal is a catalyis used in making plastics.

[john316]

I think that was at "B" plant in DOW complex in Freeport

[searchandrecovery]

You sure it wasn't William Mortensen, Ansel Adams' nemesis?

Yes (George Eastman House has some pictures of Willam Mortensen that I just, er, viewed). Ansel Adams - Grand Landscapes. Ray "Don't Call Me Bill" Mortenson - Industrial Landscapes. William Mortensen - Female Landscapes, some naked. Didn't know Ansel and William had a feud going, though.

[RaceBannon]

Wow, best site I saw on that tragedy!

[exhaustedmomma]

In my younger days I worked as a pipefitter, boiler maker, and later operator in the plants along the Houston ship channel. I have worked in BPAmocos Texas City plant. It would only take a small bomb in the right spot to simulate a tactical nuke. And on top of that the security mostly is unarmed rent-a-cops.

How long exactly has it been since you have been in these refineries to know all this? God knows those degreed idiots out there don't have a clue about where the "right spot" might be. And I am sure BPAmoco upper management is too stupid to ensure the safety of her workers and community.

[TXBSAFH]

I left in 2001, just before 9/11. I still keep in touch with several friends in my old plant. After 9/11 there was a lot os security up grades, but they have since been dropped to costly. At this plant tonight there will be one unarmed rent-a-cop. to patrol the 4 miles of fence. It is the same at most plants I am told.

And as for the right spot, anyone with a degree in chemical engineering could fine it if they got control of the control room.

[TXBSAFH]

A little terms here when I was in construction and maintenance I worked all over the Houston Ship Channel. I got a better paying job at one plant running one of the process units. This plant has 6 propane and ethelane tanks, each was 12 feet in diameter by 40 feet long. One mortar shell in those (They are alll right next to each other) and it would destroy an one square mile area. That is not counting what else is in the plant, and the surrounding plants.

[TXBSAFH]

Correction, propolene (SP?) was also stored there.

[exhaustedmomma]

Well dang, why don't you just tell the entire world where these are and get it over with.

[TXBSAFH]

They are in ever plant. That or something like them.

And they use alot of contractors for maintenance and construction. No background checks. I have worked along side paroled murders. Osama's Cousin could get a job as a laborer and get run of most plants as easy as pie. This is no secret.