BP explosion update.
03-25-2005, 05:20 PM
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BP explosion update. Here is a site to get updates.
Names released on Texas City Refinery fatalities
By BP Press Office
Friday, March 25, 2005
TEXAS CITY, TEXAS (updated 3-25-05, 1:30 p.m. CT) — The Galveston County Medical Examiner has identified all 15 workers who died in the March 23 accident at Texas City Refinery. All personnel working at the refinery at the time of the explosion have been accounted for.
During a visit to the refinery Thursday, Group Chief Executive John Browne expressed his deep regret and sympathy for the families of those who died and were injured.
He promised the support and resources necessary to help families through this ordeal and to uncover the cause of the accident.
The deceased were all contractors working for BP on a maintenance turnaround of the refinery’s Isomerization Unit. Those working for JE Merit are:
Glen Bolton
Linda Rowe
James Rowe
Art Ramos
Eugene White
Kimberly Smith
Susan Taylor
Morris King
Larry Thomas
Lorena Cruz
Ryan Rodriquez
Three of the deceased who worked for Fluor-Daniel:
Dan Hogan
Jim Hunnings
Rafael Herrera
The name of a 15th fatality is being withheld pending confirmation that his employer has been notified.
Chaplains and counselors have been available to support the victims’ families.
About 20 people are still receiving treatment in local hospitals, but two may be released today. Seven remain under intensive care.
The operation team working at the BP Texas City refinery declared Thursday evening that they have moved forward to a phase of stabilization after focusing on recovery work.
The Isomerization unit was in the process of being restarted after undergoing a two-week work program when the explosion occurred.
BP Incident Commander Rich Peltier, leading BP’s operational response team, said: "The shock of the incident still weighs heavily on everyone involved, but people are extremely focused and professional and completing very difficult tasks as safely as possible."
As the incident moved into a different phase he reported on a number of operational actions that are under way:
Support for the families
Support personnel remain on hand at the coroner’s center at the Doyle Center, Texas City in order to provide assistance to the relatives of the victims
Hotel accommodations have been provided for families that have traveled to the area
BP is collaborating with other agencies to provide assistance
Monitoring to safeguard the community
Monitoring continues both inside and outside the facility for a variety of materials
No asbestos has been detected in the open, or airborne
Air monitoring remains in place around the facility
Monitoring for benzene and "VOCs" — Volatile Organic Compounds — continues. None have been detected. This activity has been under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency
Water runoff is being monitored with plans in place in case of heavy rains that might cause an increase of water volume
Recovery phase complete
Dogs, wearing protection equipment, have been used to assist with a thorough search of the impacted area
Backhoes were used to clear debris to enable the dogs to search
The search and rescue phase of the operation has been declared complete
Strict access controls are in place around the impacted area
The Galveston County District Court has issued a temporary restraining order intended to preserve the scene, but does not impede investigation work that is under way nor the safety plans that are in place for the area
Investigation work underway
The U.S. Occupational, Health, Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Chemical Safety Board are carrying out their investigative work interviewing people involved in the incident
The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality is also present at the scene. BP is cooperating with all the above agencies
To assist the personnel through this process counseling is being offered to assist them as they recount details of what happened
The Paper Allied Chemical Employees International (PACE) has requested to conduct an independent investigation. Representatives have been briefed to help them carry out their work
BP’s Group Vice President of Exploration and Production John Mogford and Tim Holt, Vice-President of Onshore US Production are assembling a team of company experts to investigate the incident
Senior BP Executives demonstrate company commitment
BP Group Chief Executive John Browne and other senior BP executives visited with the Texas City Mayor and other community leaders early today (Thursday). He also was in contact with Texas Governor Rick Perry and a number of legislators. At a midday press conference Browne stressed that the company’s full resources would be utilized in its effort to uncover the cause of the incident
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
BP announced telephone numbers for families in need of information about relatives who work at Texas City. Concerned family members should call 409-945-1140 or 409-945-1174. Those seeking information about property claims should call 800-590-5571.
Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-409-3687
BACKGROUND: Located 40 miles south of Houston, the Texas City refinery employs 2,000 and is the third largest refinery in the US. The facility's 30 process units work convert about 460,000 barrels of crude oil and other feedstocks into products that include gasoline, jet fuels, diesel fuels and chemical feedstocks. The chemical plant at Texas City employs 500 people. Its six process units manufacture a variety of key chemical products.
Names released on Texas City Refinery fatalities
By BP Press Office
Friday, March 25, 2005
TEXAS CITY, TEXAS (updated 3-25-05, 1:30 p.m. CT) — The Galveston County Medical Examiner has identified all 15 workers who died in the March 23 accident at Texas City Refinery. All personnel working at the refinery at the time of the explosion have been accounted for.
During a visit to the refinery Thursday, Group Chief Executive John Browne expressed his deep regret and sympathy for the families of those who died and were injured.
He promised the support and resources necessary to help families through this ordeal and to uncover the cause of the accident.
The deceased were all contractors working for BP on a maintenance turnaround of the refinery’s Isomerization Unit. Those working for JE Merit are:
Glen Bolton
Linda Rowe
James Rowe
Art Ramos
Eugene White
Kimberly Smith
Susan Taylor
Morris King
Larry Thomas
Lorena Cruz
Ryan Rodriquez
Three of the deceased who worked for Fluor-Daniel:
Dan Hogan
Jim Hunnings
Rafael Herrera
The name of a 15th fatality is being withheld pending confirmation that his employer has been notified.
Chaplains and counselors have been available to support the victims’ families.
About 20 people are still receiving treatment in local hospitals, but two may be released today. Seven remain under intensive care.
The operation team working at the BP Texas City refinery declared Thursday evening that they have moved forward to a phase of stabilization after focusing on recovery work.
The Isomerization unit was in the process of being restarted after undergoing a two-week work program when the explosion occurred.
BP Incident Commander Rich Peltier, leading BP’s operational response team, said: "The shock of the incident still weighs heavily on everyone involved, but people are extremely focused and professional and completing very difficult tasks as safely as possible."
As the incident moved into a different phase he reported on a number of operational actions that are under way:
Support for the families
Support personnel remain on hand at the coroner’s center at the Doyle Center, Texas City in order to provide assistance to the relatives of the victims
Hotel accommodations have been provided for families that have traveled to the area
BP is collaborating with other agencies to provide assistance
Monitoring to safeguard the community
Monitoring continues both inside and outside the facility for a variety of materials
No asbestos has been detected in the open, or airborne
Air monitoring remains in place around the facility
Monitoring for benzene and "VOCs" — Volatile Organic Compounds — continues. None have been detected. This activity has been under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency
Water runoff is being monitored with plans in place in case of heavy rains that might cause an increase of water volume
Recovery phase complete
Dogs, wearing protection equipment, have been used to assist with a thorough search of the impacted area
Backhoes were used to clear debris to enable the dogs to search
The search and rescue phase of the operation has been declared complete
Strict access controls are in place around the impacted area
The Galveston County District Court has issued a temporary restraining order intended to preserve the scene, but does not impede investigation work that is under way nor the safety plans that are in place for the area
Investigation work underway
The U.S. Occupational, Health, Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Chemical Safety Board are carrying out their investigative work interviewing people involved in the incident
The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality is also present at the scene. BP is cooperating with all the above agencies
To assist the personnel through this process counseling is being offered to assist them as they recount details of what happened
The Paper Allied Chemical Employees International (PACE) has requested to conduct an independent investigation. Representatives have been briefed to help them carry out their work
BP’s Group Vice President of Exploration and Production John Mogford and Tim Holt, Vice-President of Onshore US Production are assembling a team of company experts to investigate the incident
Senior BP Executives demonstrate company commitment
BP Group Chief Executive John Browne and other senior BP executives visited with the Texas City Mayor and other community leaders early today (Thursday). He also was in contact with Texas Governor Rick Perry and a number of legislators. At a midday press conference Browne stressed that the company’s full resources would be utilized in its effort to uncover the cause of the incident
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
BP announced telephone numbers for families in need of information about relatives who work at Texas City. Concerned family members should call 409-945-1140 or 409-945-1174. Those seeking information about property claims should call 800-590-5571.
Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-409-3687
BACKGROUND: Located 40 miles south of Houston, the Texas City refinery employs 2,000 and is the third largest refinery in the US. The facility's 30 process units work convert about 460,000 barrels of crude oil and other feedstocks into products that include gasoline, jet fuels, diesel fuels and chemical feedstocks. The chemical plant at Texas City employs 500 people. Its six process units manufacture a variety of key chemical products.
