[Robert357]

I have done a fair amount of engineering design work at Refineries. They are a complex chemical process that is optimized for continuous operation. When something upsets that optimized process, really bad things can happen.

Some of the absolute worst refinery acidents have happed directly after power outages up here in Washington State.

Refineries accross the country are real touchy about the level of electric utility reliability they are given as it is a real safety issue.

Refineries are also terrorist identified potential targets. After Sept 11th all the ones up here in Washington STate had guards at the front gate and concrete Jersey barriers installed to prevent vehicles from running the gate at speed.

Based on what I know about the massive Stage 2 Power Emergency today and the requirement in Stage 2 to curtail certain industrial loads, I would suspect that this could be an industrial accident related to the loss of power. However, I am speculating at the moment.

[Political Junkie Too]

That particular refinery has a loooong history of problems. That's the one where four guys were killed in a flash fire several years ago.

-PJ

[socal_parrot]

Good speculation. The massive drop in demand about 3:15 must've been due to the curtailing of industrial power use. Maybe someone skiped some steps in their emergency shut-down.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Thanks Robert....