Following the breakdown of a piston rod, a mixture of hydrogen and light hydrocarbons was released from the fresh hydrogen compressor of an oil refinery. The rod broke down because of stress corrosion. The stress exerted on the rod was significantly increased by the looseness of the piston fixing point.The gas mixture ignited, also igniting the lubricating oil and other items in the room. Some 1,500 kg of hydrogen gas and a few hundred litres of lubricating oil were estimated to have been burned.

Leak of hydrogen at a refinery which may have been caused by a faulty compressor.

A hydrogen leak followed by an explosion occurred at an elbow of a pipeline cooling system and the separator of the distillation unit. The explosion destroyed the unit and injured two workers.

An explosion occurred on a unit producing hydrogen for the nearby refinery.The following fire was extinguished in 10 minutes by the public service fire brigade. Two workers were lightly injured.

This accident took place different phases and in two different units of a refinery: It consists first in a non-hydrogen accident, followed by a hydrogen-related accident.Before the hydrogen-related accident took place, a local fire occurred near the atmospheric vessel, containing a solution of NaOH in water used for neutralizing the acidity of the raw oil contained in the desalter. The fire caused damage to the tank and to the electrical cables running near the vessel. This fire was completely extinguished before the second accident.

Due to unsealing of flange connection in a heat exchanger, hydrogen leaked and ignited. At 20 m height, under pressure of 0,25 MPa.

A fire on a hydrogen pipeline in a refinery.

An explosion followed by a fire occurs in a refinery, originated by a hydrogen release at the hydrogen compressor.

A small hydrogen leak occurred during routine maintenance on an oil refinery unit not in operation.

A hydrogen feed line ruptured without igniting at an oil refinery.