Explosion in Texas City kills 4

http://www.khou.com/ ^

[LOC1]

News reports stated this was an explosion in an isomerization unit. That process unit converts C5 and C6 straight chain hydrocarbons into C5 and C6 branched chain hydrocarbons, which have a higher octane. The higher octane hydrocarbons are then blended into gasoline.

Think of the C5 and C6 hydrocarbons as liquids that vaporize very easily, not so easily as butane, but easier than the full range gasoline you put into your car.

This is not a critical process unit to the operation of the refinery. In fact it is a rather minor part of the refinery operation.

Pictures shown on the news appear to be a typical industrial disaster. The explosion did not appear to impact nearby process units to any great degree. There is nothing on the TV pictures that would lead one to suspect some type of sabotage, as opposed to a typical industrial disaster.

[TXBSAFH]

They did, it did not matter. This place was so bad that they did not allow smoking because the dirt BURNED!!!! This place was and is a disaster. I worked in about 2 dozen plants. This one was the worst. I to this day remember helping get this guy off a tower after his arm was almost cut off. Safety and enviromental was definitely not on their grid then.

[MEG33]

The futures market did not understand this ..from the reports I heard.

Dozens of injuries..some from flying debris, contusions, broken bones.. some burns. I heard 3 or 4 critical..

Still no number of deaths..

[SheLion]

Thanks everyone for letting me know the area of Texas where the explosion happened.

My prayers for all involved. I hope it wasn't as bad as it looked.....

[WFTR]

News reports stated this was an explosion in an isomerization unit. That process unit converts C5 and C6 straight chain hydrocarbons into C5 and C6 branched chain hydrocarbons, which have a higher octane. The higher octane hydrocarbons are then blended into gasoline.

Thanks for the information. I've never worked with an isomerization unit, so I don't know what the challenges are. I don't suppose you'd know where the C5 and C6 hydrocarbons came from or what the catalyst for this reaction is?

[Arrowhead1952]

Check some pictures on this thread.

# 104 here and # 108 here

[Zeppelin]

south and southEAST, toward galveston, on the gulfside.

[Molly Pitcher]

My father was working in the American Oil Refinery at the time. Lived in Galveston, and after I was born we lived in LaMarque...grew up with stories of the explosion & its aftermath.

[Molly Pitcher]

In fact, American Oil became Amoco which became BP...

The 1947 explosion mainly affected the Monsanto plant...besides the French ship of course...but I'm sure you knew that...

[LOC1]

Most of the feed stock is virgin C5 and C6's contained in crude oil and separated as a light naphtha stream on the crude distillation tower.

The catalyst composition is proprietary to the licensor, UOP in most cases. Two principal categories exist: nobel-metal fixed bed catalysts operating in a hydrogen environment and employing a promoter, and dual-function catalysts containing a noble metal and an acid function.

Operating conditions are relatively mild. 200Deg C and moderate operating pressure.

[WFTR]

The UOP website mentions that the catalyst contains chlorides. If so, too much water in the feedstock could lead to severe corrosion. There are a couple of other thoughts that come to mind immediately. I'll be interested in hearing what they find.

[ru4liberty]

Texas City is the armpit of Texas.

Yet you don't mind availing yourselves to conveniences the industry in Texas City make available in your lives.

[girlscout]

I believe we were talking about the area and not the industry. As a matter of fact I've had loved ones work in that very same industry my entire life. That doesn't change the fact that Texas City is what it is. If it makes you feel any better Pasadena isn't that great around the plant area either.

[girlscout]

According to the last news report the death count is now up to 14 and they are still searching the rubble for missing workers. This is so tragic. Prayers going out to the workers and family members of all those affected.

[Arrowhead1952]

Here is an update thread on that refinery explosion. 14 dead as of this AM.

14 Feared Dead in Texas Refinery Blast