Explosion at Williams Olefins Plant | Incident Investigation | Accident Investigation
Channel: WorkSafeVP
Date: 2023-02-24

​Don't Forget to Subscribe to @Worksafevp 

This case study examines the June 13, 2013, catastrophic equipment rupture, explosion, and fire at the Williams Olefins Plant in Geismar, Louisiana, which killed two Williams employees. The incident occurred during non-routine operational activities that introduced heat to a
type of heat exchanger called a “reboiler” which was offline, creating an overpressure event while the vessel was isolated from its pressure relief device. The introduced heat increased the temperature of the liquid propane mixture confined within the reboiler shell, resulting in a dramatic pressure rise within the vessel due to liquid thermal expansion. The reboiler shell catastrophically ruptured, causing a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion and fire.

Incident Investigation | Fire and Explosion | Process Safety

Don't Forget to Subscribe to @Worksafevp​