| Investigation Confirms Cause of Fire at Shell Deer Park Chemical Plant
The fire at the Olefins-3 unit on May 13 occurred during replacement of an
inactive 42-inch-diameter pipeline. While removing a 203-foot section of the
line from the pipe rack, it struck and ruptured an active line that contained
naphtha, a gasoline component. Naphtha from the damaged line was released and
ignited at 10:40 a.m. The fire was extinguished and the all-clear sounded at
2:05 p.m.
There were no injuries.
The OP-3 unit was operating at the time of the incident and has continued to run
at reduced rates since May 13. Repairs to furnaces damaged in the fire are
expected to be completed by late June at which time the unit will resume normal
rates.
OP-3 produces approximately 1.9 billion pounds a year of ethylene and other
chemicals that are used in the manufacture of plastics, pharmaceuticals,
detergents and other products.
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