The fire on the vacuum distillation unit (VDU) weakened the main vacuum distillation column supports, allowing it to collapse onto the heat exchange train. The VDU was shutdown completely and the refinery was left running but at a much reduced capacity. An investigation identified that the fire was caused by a leak from a branch on the column that was fabricated from an incorrect material.

[ Property Damage $143 Million. Estimated Current Value $191 Million ]

Image credit: ORLEN