Hydrogen Release from a Pipeline in a Chemical Plant Due to External Event
During a leak test performed on a new retention basin of a chemical plant, one of the walls of the structure collapsed on a rack of 4 pipes located nearby and caused the rupture of the supports and deformation of the pipes. 1,500 m3 of water was released into the environment. A small leak of hydrogen was detected. Site crews, assisted by firefighters on the platform, isolated and decompressed the pipes. The isolation of the hydrogen pipeline resulted in the shutdowns of 2 units in nearby refineries. The 1,600 m3 concrete retention basin, the construction of which had just been completed, was to be commissioned in May 2009. According to the initial investigations, the quality of the anchorages between the tie rods responsible for ensuring rigidity of the structure and the walls of the basin would be the cause of the accident.
Event Date
April 10, 2009
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Cause Comments
Immediate cause is the collapse of the wall of a retention basin, which had just been completed, Root cause is the bad design of the basin, or the choice of the bad quality of the materials.
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
hydrogen pipeline
Storage/Process Medium
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Pre-event Summary
The 1,600 m3 concrete retention basin had just been completed. Before commissioning, it was being tested.
Event Nature
Emergency Action
14:00 Basin wall collapses; rupture of the supports and deformation of the pipes; 1,500 m3 of water released. 14:15 The emergency plan is initiated pm and the employees confined. A small leak of hydrogen was observed. Site crews, assisted by firefighters on the platform, isolated and decompressed the pipes. 15:30 The leak under control, the containment measures terminated16:30 Emergency plan terminated. The isolation of the hydrogen pipeline resulted in the shutdowns of 2 units in nearby refineries.
Release Type
Release Substance
Hydrogen Release Concentration (%)
100.00
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
ARIA data base
event no. 36087