Deer Park petrochemical fire expected to last 'throughout the night'

[thackney]

Deer Park petrochemical fire expected to last 'throughout the night'
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Deer-Park-tells-city-to-shelter-in-place-as-plant-13695162.php
March 17, 2019

Residents in Deer Park were urged to shelter in place for most of Sunday as a petrochemical fire raged at chemical storage facility in the city of 34,000.
ITC spokeswoman Alice Richardson said the fire was feared to have spread to another chemical tank, despite efforts by the company and local emergency responders to extinguish it with foam.

"It will go on throughout the night," Richardson said during a press conference as flames and thick black smoke rose behind her. She was unable to estimate when the flames could subside.

One of the tanks that caught fire contained naphtha, a component in gasoline which can irritate the nose and throat when breathed, according to officials. Poisonous gases are produced when naphtha is exposed to fire, according to a fact sheet from the New Jersey Department of Health.
The fire started around 10:30 a.m. and residents were advised to take shelter within a half hour as authorities then shut down State Highway 225 from Beltway 8 to Independence Parkway near the Intercontinental Terminals Company plant....

[thackney]

Deer Park plant fire spreads to five more tanks
https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Deer-Park-plant-fire-spreads-to-five-more-tanks-13696392.php

Deer Park officials have lifted the shelter-in-place after a petrochemical fire that has now spread to five more tanks.

The chemicals in the newly involved tanks are used in the production of finished gasoline and base oil used in machine lubricants, according to a news release from Intercontinental Terminals Company.

Recommended Video
The chemicals in the original two tanks that caught fire are Naptha and Xylene, both components in gasoline. According to earlier reports, Naptha can irritate the nose and throat when breathed, and poisonous gases are produced when it's exposed to fire.

The fire spread to five more tanks overnight....

[thackney]

See video at link for spread fire.

https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Mammoth-tank-fire-burning-near-Houston-507271921.html

[thackney]

[thackney]

Location:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7387524,-95.0984683,1643m/data=!3m1!1e3

[jpsb]

It is across the bay from me and it is still burning, lot and lots of thick black smoke

[thackney]

It is across the bay from me and it is still burning, lot and lots of thick black smoke

I-10 was a fun drive to Mont Belvieu this morning with Hwy 225 closed.

My boss asked me if I saw the smoke driving in.  Not much visible at 6:00 am.

[catfish1957]

It is across the bay from me and it is still burning, lot and lots of thick black smoke

Wow, terrible tank farm fire.  The good news is that at least there apparently are not any < C5 products.  In this particular case, the feeds are chocked, SPCC containments devices hopefully had auto shutoff, area isolated, cooled, and wetted where possible, and let itself burn out.

Depending on its own mitigation circcumstances, it might take days to complete its burn.

[thackney]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMnsA8numZY

[Elderberry]

The Latest: Fire at Texas plant could last 2 more days

WacoTrib 52 min ago@1334 3/18/2019

 The Latest on a fire at a Texas petrochemicals plant (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Officials say a large fire at petrochemicals terminal near Houston will likely burn for another two days.

The fire erupted Sunday at Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park, about 15 miles southeast of Houston. Fire crews continued battle the blaze Monday, and authorities monitoring air quality around the facility say levels are within normal guidelines.

ITC says the risk of explosion at its facility is "minimal" and no injuries have been reported.

The company initially said the fire had spread to eight storage tanks. But on Monday, the company said the fire had spread to seven tanks and that one of the tanks was empty.

The tanks contain gasoline components.

Officials say fire crews are using foam to battle the blaze and to protect the surrounding storage tanks that have not caught on fire.

More: https://www.wacotrib.com/news/ap_texas/the-latest-fire-at-texas-plant-could-last-more-days/article_8165773a-942c-5dd3-b218-98458ef3fb4b.html

[Idiot]

The Latest: Fire at Texas plant could last 2 more days

WacoTrib 52 min ago@1334 3/18/2019

 The Latest on a fire at a Texas petrochemicals plant (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

Officials say a large fire at petrochemicals terminal near Houston will likely burn for another two days.

The fire erupted Sunday at Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park, about 15 miles southeast of Houston. Fire crews continued battle the blaze Monday, and authorities monitoring air quality around the facility say levels are within normal guidelines.

ITC says the risk of explosion at its facility is "minimal" and no injuries have been reported.

The company initially said the fire had spread to eight storage tanks. But on Monday, the company said the fire had spread to seven tanks and that one of the tanks was empty.

The tanks contain gasoline components.

Officials say fire crews are using foam to battle the blaze and to protect the surrounding storage tanks that have not caught on fire.

More: https://www.wacotrib.com/news/ap_texas/the-latest-fire-at-texas-plant-could-last-more-days/article_8165773a-942c-5dd3-b218-98458ef3fb4b.html

Looking at the video, I find it amazing that the other tanks haven't caught fire.

[catfish1957]

Looking at the video, I find it amazing that the other tanks haven't caught fire.

True, but I'd wager fire supressant foam was pumped immediately in and covering the hydrocarbon after the start of the fire, and away from the catistrophic initial event.  Obviously, won't guarantee to prevent an addiotnal  fire, but will lessen that chance.

[thackney]

[catfish1957]

Incredible plume from that fire.  Last time I remember seeing one that extensive was the Phillips disaster back in '89.

Plume was easily visible even to Louisiana

[thackney]

[Elderberry]

I was in/under the plume yesterday taking a dog to the vet at Long Drive & Telephone. Nasty!

[Bigun]

Can someone please explain to me why suppressants haven't been injected into those tanks to kill the fires?

[catfish1957]

I was in/under the plume yesterday taking a dog to the vet at Long Drive & Telephone. Nasty!

IF you look at Thackney's  photos above the one circled is very indictive of an inversion layer at about 5k feet.  I see a cold front is on the way, so  hopefully we will see some steeper adiabatic lapse rates, and some welcome dispersion.

[catfish1957]

Can someone please explain to me why suppressants haven't been injected into those tanks to kill the fires?

My experience tells me that the integrity of the foam pipes feeding the tank farm may have been breached during the initial explosion.  Again, just speculative on my part. 

Post explosion, it is going to be really tough to deploy resources close enough to do any good.  Sadly, this is one of those let itself burn itself out scenarios.

[Bigun]

My experience tells me that the integrity of the foam pipes feeding the tank farm may have been breached during the initial explosion. 

Even if that's true, surely they could have rigged up something more remote to get the suppressants into at least some of the burning tanks.  In the past, I've been involved in some efforts to deal with very large tank farm fires and we were able to do that.

[catfish1957]

Even if that's true, surely they could have rigged up something more remote to get the suppressants into at least some of the burning tanks.  In the past, I've been involved in some efforts to deal with very large tank farm fires and we were able to do that.

Without putting people (including aerial angles) in harms way?  Gasoline and Naptha burn extremely hot, and add spot BLEVE flash points??.  Very interested in hearing how you did it.

[Bigun]

Without putting people (including aerial angles) in harms way?  Gasoline and Naptha burn extremely hot, and add spot BLEVE flash points??.  Very interested in hearing how you did it.

We found injection points on piping leading to the tank farm that were remote enough to ensure the safety of those involved and used them.  It's not all that complicated.  How much doing something like that would affect the current situation is very much dependent on how the valves within the tank farm are currently arranged but, I'm sure, it would have some positive effect.

[catfish1957]

We found injection points on piping leading to the tank farm that were remote enough to ensure the safety of those involved and used them.  It's not all that complicated.  How much doing something like that would affect the current situation is very much dependent on how the valves within the tank farm are currently arranged but, I'm sure, it would have some positive effect.

Sounds like a good way, but if the initial exposion totally severed the foam line ...all bets would be off.  I am very familiar way back with ECHMA's CIMA (Mutual Aid organization), and they are among some of the most knowledgeable and talented fire fighters in the country.  I am pretty certain if they haven't found a safe way to extinguish the blaze, it doesn't exist.

[Bigun]

Sounds like a good way, but if the initial exposion totally severed the foam line ...all bets would be off.  I am very familiar way back with ECHMA's CIMA (Mutual Aid organization), and they are among some of the most knowledgeable and talented fire fighters in the country.  I am pretty certain if they haven't found a safe way to extinguish the blaze, it doesn't exist.

No doubt you are correct. I was just thinking out loud and recollecting my personal experience.

[Elderberry]

All tank fires extinguished at ITC facility in Deer Park

https://abc13.com/all-tank-fires-out-at-itc-facility-in-deer-park/5207523/

The tank fires at Intercontinental Terminals Company in Deer Park are out, days after it started, at one point burning chemicals in up to eight tanks.

Tuesday night, four tanks were burning as a large flash of fire rose from the facility. The cause of the fireball was not immediately known.

Wednesday morning, ITC officials released a statement saying that crews were able to extinguish all the fires as of 3 a.m.

"Crews continue to spray foam and water on the tanks to facilitate cooling and prevent reigniting of the remaining material," the statement read.

While the fires are out, steam and smoke may still be visible and there is a possibility that fires could reignite.

More at link.

[Elderberry]

Deer Park plant fire may have been sparked by overheated storage tank, worker says

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Deer-Park-plant-fire-may-have-been-sparked-by-13701572.php

A worker who said he was at the Intercontinental Terminals Co. when the fire first erupted Sunday morning first noticed smoke rising from a chemical storage tank.

He left the terminal within a half-hour and by then, "It was roaring up."

The man, who asked not to be identified for fear of repercussions, said speculation among his colleagues is that parts of the tank may have overheated. The tanks overheat from time to time, he said, but normally have a safety mechanism that can shut them off.

For whatever reason, that safety mechanism may not have been enough to prevent the fire, he said.

"Everyone thinks a tank overheated," he said.

more at link.

[thackney]

[catfish1957]

Deer Park plant fire may have been sparked by overheated storage tank, worker says

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Deer-Park-plant-fire-may-have-been-sparked-by-13701572.php

Wha........?

A half hour?  Why wasn't CIMA alarm sounded at the first onset of smoke?  This just doesn't sound right.  Any remotely competent operator or maintenance technican would know the basics of emergency reporting.

[thackney]

Wha........?

A half hour?  Why wasn't CIMA alarm sounded at the first onset of smoke?  This just doesn't sound right.  Any remotely competent operator or maintenance technican would know the basics of emergency reporting.

I don't see a description in the article that says it was not immediately reported.

[Bigun]

I don't see a description in the article that says it was not immediately reported.

I don't see anything that says it was either, and leaving within a half hour of seeing the smoke tells me that it likely wasn't reported.  Guy just wanted to go home. No wonder he doesn't want to be identified.

[thackney]

I don't see anything that says it was either, and leaving within a half hour of seeing the smoke tells me that it likely wasn't reported.  Guy just wanted to go home. No wonder he doesn't want to be identified.

I think that is a huge leap to believe it wasn't reported.

[thackney]

I think that is a huge leap to believe it wasn't reported.

Let me add to that.  If he wasn't involved in operations or fire fighting, he was likely told to evacuate.

If we had a fire at our plant in the terminal that wasn't put out quickly, I would hope the majority of us would be sent home right away.  If you are not trained, you are only in the way.  Company liability would be reason to get everyone else away.

[Bigun]

I think that is a huge leap to believe it wasn't reported.

Yep!  But the guy anonymously running his mouth about what he saw had reported it he wouldn't be anonymous and he wouldn't have left when he did either.

[thackney]

Yep!  But my instincts tell me that a guy anonymously running his mouth about what he saw would mention reporting it.

Heck, it may be that he didn't see it until half an hour after it was already reported.  This could be a mower operator running his mouth.  Someone completely uninvolved in anything but cutting grass.

[Bigun]

Heck, it may be that he didn't see it until half an hour after it was already reported.  This could be a mower operator running his mouth.  Someone completely uninvolved in anything but cutting grass.

All true!  But my gut says otherwise. We will probably never know for sure.

[thackney]

All true!  But my gut says otherwise. We will probably never know for sure.

My gut says no way in the world a fire burns at a tank farm for half an hour and no one reports it.  Smoke is going to get immediate attention.  The temperature sensors at the tank probably already had the alarms going off before there was even smoke.

edit:

I believe we will know what happened, but it will likely take about 2 years for the Chemical Safety Board to release their full report.  For example:

Loss of Containment, Fires, and Explosions at
Enterprise Products Midstream Gas Plant
Pascagoula, Mississippi | Incident Date: June 27, 2016 | No. 2016-02-I-MS
https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/final_case_study_-_enterprise.pdf
Published: February 13, 2019

[Bigun]

My gut says no way in the world a fire burns at a tank farm for half an hour and no one reports it.  Smoke is going to get immediate attention.  The temperature sensors at the tank probably already had the alarms going off before there was even smoke.

All of that definitely SHOULD have happened but I have personal experience with an incident that killed 17 people some years ago where NONE of the things that were supposed to happen actually did happen.

[catfish1957]

I don't see a description in the article that says it was not immediately reported.

Yeah, I possibly misread or misinterpreted.  He left within an hour probably after mutual aid took control of the scene.

[Bigun]

Yeah, I misread.  He left within an hour probably after mutual aid took control of the scene.

Clipped directly from the article:

He left the terminal within a half-hour and by then, "It was roaring up."

[catfish1957]

Let me add to that.  If he wasn't involved in operations or fire fighting, he was likely told to evacuate.

If we had a fire at our plant in the terminal that wasn't put out quickly, I would hope the majority of us would be sent home right away.  If you are not trained, you are only in the way.  Company liability would be reason to get everyone else away.

In ECMA's CIMA system, facilty relinquishes the emergency area to an IC (Incident Commander, and in this case it's fire chief) Comoany reps man a EOC Emergency Operations Center always and typically relocated out of harms way.  EOC handles external affairs and is a conduit for resources and external communicatuons.  As far as your comment, once Company relinquishes emergency site, opeartor and more often Operations Supervisors remain outside scene as resouces, and technical advisors of what the IC is dealing with.  IF...this was the operator, my hunch is remained on site, or was told to go home for some unknown reason

[catfish1957]

Clipped directly from the article:

Can read that 2 or 3 different ways, which was my original thoughts (incompetence) This time, I am going to let the optimist in me try to think the best of folks.

[Bigun]

Can read that 2 or 3 different ways, which was my original thoughts (incompetence) This time, I am going to let the optimist in me try to think the best of folks.

I know how I read it but I sincerely hope you and Thackney are right and I'm wrong.

[Bigun]

My gut says no way in the world a fire burns at a tank farm for half an hour and no one reports it.  Smoke is going to get immediate attention.  The temperature sensors at the tank probably already had the alarms going off before there was even smoke.

edit:

I believe we will know what happened, but it will likely take about 2 years for the Chemical Safety Board to release their full report.  For example:

Loss of Containment, Fires, and Explosions at
Enterprise Products Midstream Gas Plant
Pascagoula, Mississippi | Incident Date: June 27, 2016 | No. 2016-02-I-MS
https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/final_case_study_-_enterprise.pdf
Published: February 13, 2019

I was called in shortly after an explosion and fire (waste water tank exploded) killed seventeen people some years ago and will tell you that the report that was finally issued was a complete and total whitewash of what had actually happened. The chain of events leading to the disaster started more than ten years prior to the incident and, if the truth had been reported, Arco Chemical would have been sued out of existence.

[catfish1957]

I know how I read it but I sincerely hope you and Thackney are right and I'm wrong.

One thing just struck me wrong too.  It was intially reported that the tanks in question were gasoline and naptha.  These are tanks stored at ambient conditions and distributed the same.  Why would have any of these tanks overheated?  Only heavy fraction petroleum products like asphalts, say C40+ products  or so require heating to maintain fluidity.

This doensn't make sense.

[catfish1957]

I was called in shortly after an explosion and fire (waste water tank exploded) killed seventeen people some years ago and will tell you that the report that was finally issued was a complete and total whitewash of what had actually happened. The chain of events leading to the disaster started more than ten years prior to the incident and, if the truth had been reported, Arco Chemical would have been sued out of existence.

Sorry, you had to go through that.  Your earlier comments led me to believe it was either that incident or the one with AMACO in Texas City.

[Bigun]

One thing just struck me wrong too.  It was intially reported that the tanks in question were gasoline and naptha.  These are tanks stored at ambient conditions and distributed the same.  Why would have any of these tanks overheated?  Only heavy fraction petroleum products like asphalts, say C40+ products  or so require heating to maintain fluidity.

This doensn't make sense.

Absolutely correct! And if the fire suppression systems, assuming they had them, had worked as they should this would have been a minor incident that would likely have never seen a news report.

[Bigun]

Sorry, you had to go through that.  Your earlier comments led me to believe it was either that incident or the one with AMACO in Texas City.

Thank you!  What happened there still get's my dander up even after all these years.

[catfish1957]

Absolutely correct! And if the fire suppression systems, assuming they had them, had worked as they should this would have been a minor incident that would likely have never seen a news report.

Yep.  Speculation on my part would be a pump overheated so badly that it caught fire and spread with product, and to the point either it comprimised the tank or a check valve failed.  Which OTOH would be very strange since most of these have double check configuation.

[catfish1957]

Thank you!  What happened there still get's my dander up even after all these years.

I can imagine.  In my 35 years in industry I saw some pretty scary things, but nothing at that level of disaster.

[Bigun]

I can imagine.  In my 35 years in industry I saw some pretty scary things, but nothing at that level of disaster.

Unfortunately for me, that was not the first such thing I was close to. I was living in Ras Tanura Saudia Arabia when an explosion and fire in the refinery there killed several people. One of which was a young engineer who had previously worked for me in the Gas Operations Division.