Yet Another Malfunction at BPs Plant in Texas City, Texas

Another malfunction happened today, Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at a unit of the BP plant in Texas City, Texas. According to Texas City Office of Emergency Management representative, Bruce Clausen, about 12:30pm there was a malfunction at a unit of the BP plant, and the unit started spewing clay or dust. Texas City officials decided to issue a shelter in place order as a precaution, because dust/clay is so thick. He then stated that it is not a particular health risk to the general public but people who suffer from asthma and other breathing problems may have difficulties and that was the reason for the shelter in place. According to the meteorologist for ABC13, Tim Heller, the wind may have helped disburse the leak. A spokesperson for BP stated the leak has been contained. Workers have been moved from the area and taken to a safe location. No injuries have been reported at this time

Texas City is BP's largest refinery worldwide and the third-largest refinery in the United States, with a crude capacity of about 460,000 barrels per day. The facility is capable of producing about 10 million gallons per day of premium and unleaded regular gasoline - including low-sulfur Amoco Ultimate® fuels.

The BP plant in Texas City has a history of malfunctions. One of the largest catastrophes happened on March 23, 2005. During startup of the isomerization unit on Wednesday March 23, 2005 following a temporary outage, an explosion and fire occurred which killed 15 and harmed over 170 people at the Texas City refinery. It was one of the most serious industrial accidents in the preceding two decades.

BP settled claims by two workers injured in an explosion at a Texas refinery in 2005, canceling a trial that had been set for February 2007. The settlements were with E.J. Godeaux, 61, a painter-sandblaster, and Ted Kinard, 67, a boilermaker. They suffered back injuries and post-traumatic stress. This followed another last-minute settlement by BP with Eva Rowe, who lost both parents in the March 23, 2005, explosion. Rowe settled her claims in November 2006, on the day a trial was to begin. BP has set aside $1.6 billion to settle explosion claims.

The company has admitted safety lapses at the Texas City plant but said it never intentionally endangered lives. Neil Chapman, the BP spokesman, has said the company's own accident investigation found that capital spending at the refinery rose significantly from 2001 to 2004. Brent Coon, a plaintiffs' lawyer, says safety was compromised because budgets were cut too much.