Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

Inside a chemical plant set up on an industrial platform, an ignited naphtha leak occurred on a ¾” drain tap located on a 4 “U”-shaped pipe at the level of the clarifier distillation column. The clarifier served to purify the portion of naphtha containing impurities during its transport within crude oil pipelines.

The internal emergency plan was activated at 1:15 pm, with a safety perimeter established and all employees working nearby evacuated. Large fire-fighting equipment was deployed, the unit shut down and the column blanketed with nitrogen. The base of the column containing heavy cuts spared by the flames was drained. The platform’s fire-fighters brought the blaze under control using emulsifiers and cooled neighbouring installations with water nozzles. External responders arriving on the scene were not required to intervene. The Prefecture mobilised its monitoring unit, prepared a bulletin on the pollution risk to the ROSELLE River for distribution to bordering countries and attended the site visit along with the classified facilities inspectorate. The fire was announced extinguished at 5 pm.

The polluted water collected in an intermediate basin was stored in the stormwater tank before treatment. The column contained 230 tonnes of naphtha and fuel oil, with approx. 15 tonnes of fuel oil having burned. The analyses performed indicated the absence of discharge of polluted water during the fire and moreover no hazardous discharge into the atmosphere. Nonetheless, a few malfunctions arose at the level of the biological treatment plant for water generated on the industrial platform during the days following the accident, in all likelihood due to the emulsifier used to extinguish the fire. The operator issued a press release.

At the time of the accident, the workshop was in start-up mode after a shutdown for repairs. This sequential restart, lasting several days, complied with specific and lengthy procedures. The targeted section had only been placed back into service the day before. According to the operator, this fire was caused by a breach in the seal either on the connection with the blow-off line or at the ¾” valve placed on this line.