Fire at a Catacarb Reactor of a Refinery
The Unit for Catalysed Removal of Carbon Dioxide (Catacarb) leaked and hydrogen fire at the hydrocracking unit. The fire lasted approximately 10 minutes. Localized corrosion caused a pipe to fail and dumped the Catacarb from the unit and then hydrogen was released and ignited. The unit was shutdown, resulting in loss of the supply of Catacarb.
Event Date
February 7, 2000
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
Localized corrosion caused the failure of a pipe. The Catacarb was dumped from the unit. Hydrogen was released and ignited.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
Catacarb reactor
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Operational Condition
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Unknown
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Snapshot from the site of the Major Accidents at Chemical/Refinery Plants in Contra Costa County