An oil spill occurred due to a failure of a block valve to seat properly during maintenance on a pump strainer in the visbreaker unit. The oil auto-ignited and the ensuing fire spread and destroyed the visbreaker and damaged adjacent equipment. Subsequent explosions, heat restricted fire fighting access, inadequately trained fire brigade personnel, and damage to the firewater distribution system further hindered extinguishing the fire in a timely manner. The fire was spread by the firewater application, and was finally extinguished with the help of the local fire department.

[ Property Damage $159 Million. Estimated Current Value $271 Million ]

Image credit: Citgo