TY - JOUR
T1 - Texas LPG fire
T2 - Domino effects triggered by natural hazards
AU - Naderpour, Mohsen
AU - Khakzad, Nima
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - On February 2007, a massive fire in a propane de-asphalting unit in an oil refinery in Texas, USA happened due to liquid propane release from a cracked pipe in a control station injuring four people, damaging extensive equipment, causing significant business interruption, and resulting in more than $50 million losses. The accident was triggered by a natural hazard: freezing of piping at a control station caused an inlet pipe elbow to crack, which in turn, led to the release of high-pressure liquid propane which was rapidly ignited. In addition, there were two near-miss events due to potential domino effects. In fact, the accident could reasonably have resulted in much more severe consequences due to the exposure of large butane storage spheres and chlorine containers, increasing the possibility of a catastrophic domino effect. This paper develops a Natech (natural hazard triggering technological disasters) risk assessment methodology that relies upon Bayesian network capabilities and takes into account the potential Natech domino effects. The methodology is implemented in the intended refinery and mathematically graphically represents the dynamic cause–effect relations between units involved in the scenario, and handles uncertainties among the interactions. In addition, the methodology can provide a risk value for the entire scenario that can be used further for risk-based decision making.
AB - On February 2007, a massive fire in a propane de-asphalting unit in an oil refinery in Texas, USA happened due to liquid propane release from a cracked pipe in a control station injuring four people, damaging extensive equipment, causing significant business interruption, and resulting in more than $50 million losses. The accident was triggered by a natural hazard: freezing of piping at a control station caused an inlet pipe elbow to crack, which in turn, led to the release of high-pressure liquid propane which was rapidly ignited. In addition, there were two near-miss events due to potential domino effects. In fact, the accident could reasonably have resulted in much more severe consequences due to the exposure of large butane storage spheres and chlorine containers, increasing the possibility of a catastrophic domino effect. This paper develops a Natech (natural hazard triggering technological disasters) risk assessment methodology that relies upon Bayesian network capabilities and takes into account the potential Natech domino effects. The methodology is implemented in the intended refinery and mathematically graphically represents the dynamic cause–effect relations between units involved in the scenario, and handles uncertainties among the interactions. In addition, the methodology can provide a risk value for the entire scenario that can be used further for risk-based decision making.
KW - Bayesian network
KW - Domino effect
KW - Natech accident
KW - Risk assessment
UR - http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bd535ca0-2ce5-49ac-bc4c-70a8c2e2f6e2
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045947893&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psep.2018.03.008
DO - 10.1016/j.psep.2018.03.008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85045947893
SN - 0957-5820
VL - 116
SP - 354
EP - 364
JO - Process Safety and Environmental Protection
JF - Process Safety and Environmental Protection
ER -