Gasket Failure in Gas Oil Desulfurization Unit Leads to Fire
A fire started in a refinery's gas oil desulfurization unit. The purpose of this unit is to separate sulfur from hydrocarbons and to do so, the latter are raised to 340C in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. A gasket would be responsible for the emission of the gas that then ignited.
Event Date
April 6, 2000
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Cause Comments
According to ARIA report, the possible cause was the failure of a gasket.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
reactor, gasket
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Consequences
Number of Injured Persons
9
Currency
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Unknown
Event Nature
Emergency Action
Internal firefighters quickly controlled the fire. The external emergency services were mobilized but did not have to intervene. The plant operator shut down the unit to reduce and then stop the leak.
Release Type
Release Substance
Ignition Source
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Event description in the French database ARIA
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/18237/
(accessed October 2020)