At approximately 1:00 AM on the night of Nov. 27, 2019, a massive explosion was heard at the TPC plant in Port Neches, Texas. According to reports, the blast was felt up to 30 miles away. The cause of the explosion was finally determined by the United States Chemical Safety Board, an independent federal agency that investigates chemical incidents.
According to the Chemical Safety Board, or CSB, the company (TPC Group, LLC) failed to identify problem areas where dangerous “popcorn polymers” may build up. The company’s failure to identify and implement safety precautions and recommendations such as regularly flushing pipes led to the build-up of this polymer. According to CSB Spokesman Steve Owens, the chair of the CSB, “The incident at TPC was the result of a known safety hazard, that was poorly managed and controlled at the facility.”
The report details how the build-up of popcorn polymers occurred for more than 100 days in 2019. The build-up ultimately caused increased pressure inside a 16-inch pipe, which finally ruptured. The pipe rupturing caused 6,000 gallons of liquid butadiene, a highly flammable petroleum-based chemical that is used in plastic production, to be released in less than a minute. Once the butadiene was released, it vaporized forming a dangerous explosive cloud.
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries or the loss of a family member due to the negligence of a chemical refinery, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz, & Stogner by calling 713-396-3964 or toll-free at 1-800-594-4884.