Photo credit: www.Drillers.com Simultaneous operations or “SimOps” in the oil and gas industry refers to the process where multiple operations are carried out in the same area, at the same time. These operations can include drilling, production, and maintenance activities. This approach can save time and money, but it also comes with significant hazards that…
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An explosion and fire erupted at a chemical plant in suburban Houston on March 22, 2023, injuring one person. The blast occurred around noon on March 22, 2023, at a chemical production facility in Pasadena, Texas. Preliminary information indicated the fire occurred when liquified natural gas was being transferred from a tanker truck to a…
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On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, an explosion occurred at a plant in Pasadena, Texas. According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, at least one person was injured in the blast and taken to a local hospital. Local news broadcasts showed the aftermath of the explosion. Large plumes of black smoke could be seen coming from the Ineos…
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On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, a fire broke out in Deer Park, Texas at the PEMEX Oil Refinery. The fire burned for a number of hours causing concern throughout the Deer Park community. Chemical fires have ravaged Deer Park and nearby Houston suburbs in the past. These chemical fires can spread toxic ash throughout communities,…
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Figure 1 – Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Photo credit: www.apnews.com. On Tuesday morning, February 21, 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) chief Michael Regan ordered that Norfolk Southern Railroad Company to pay for the cost of remediation for Norfolk Southern’s train derailment, in which 38 derailed. Of those…
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Figure 1 – Flammable and toxic gas leaking from the DuPont chemical plant in La Porte, Texas on November 15, 2014. Photo credit: www.TexasTribune.org. A release of highly toxic and flammable gas called Methyl Mercaptan was released on November 15, 2014, at a plant in La Porte, Texas. The release of the gas resulted in…
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CenterPoint Energy held a meeting with representatives from the Southwest Crossing neighborhood in Houston, Texas to discuss the new propane storage facility constructed a mere 500 feet away from their neighborhood. The meeting was prompted by the community’s frustration over the lack of communication and transparency from CenterPoint regarding the project. Representatives of the neighborhood…
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In December 2022, a community protest formed in the Southwest Houston neighborhood of Southwest Crossing; in response to Centerpoint Energy’s new propane facility that was recently constructed on the neighborhood’s fringe. Centerpoint, the Houston-based energy giant, reportedly began building propane-air peak-shaving facilities throughout Houston since 2019. Centerpoint is a beneficiary of an approximately $16 billion…
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