Shortly after 6pm, on 2 June 2011, an atmospheric storage tank within the amine regeneration unit at the Chevron Pembroke Refinery exploded. A fireball split the tank open and killed four workers: Robert Broome, Julie Jones, Dennis Riley and Andrew Jenkins. The sole survivor, Andrew Phillips, sustained severe burns and suffered life-changing injuries.

The force of the explosion ejected the five-tonne steel tank roof over 55 metres through the air. After narrowly missing a multi-fuel pipe track, the roof crashed onto a pressurised storage sphere containing extremely flammable butane. Good fortune prevented the airborne roof from puncturing the butane storage vessel, which would have led to an uncontrolled release of liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

The explosion was caused by the unintended ignition of a flammable atmosphere within the tank (17T302), during what should have been a routine cleaning operation conducted in preparation for maintenance.

KEY ISSUES:
• OPERATING PROCEDURES
• PERMIT SYSTEM
• CONTROL OF CONTRACTORS
• RISK ASSESSMENT
• COMPETENCE

Image Credit: HSE