Distillation Column Explosions and Failures¶
Distillation columns handle large inventories of flammable or toxic liquids under varying pressures and temperatures, making them a common source of major releases when instrumentation, relief systems, or operating procedures fail. The investigations below document the root causes and CSB recommendations arising from column incidents.
14 CSB investigations in this database involve distillation column as a primary or contributing equipment factor, spanning 1998–2024.
Distillation Column Explosions and Failures (14)¶
| Incident | Date | Industry | Key Hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware City Refining Company | 11/29/2015 | Petroleum Refining | Flash Fire, Fire |
| TPC Port Neches Explosions and Fire | 11/27/2019 | Chemical Manufacturing | Chemical Release, Explosion |
| First Chemical Corp. Reactive Chemical Explosion | 10/13/2002 | Chemical Manufacturing | Runaway Reaction, Explosion |
| Formosa Plastics Propylene Explosion | 10/06/2005 | Chemical Manufacturing | Chemical Release, Explosion |
| Isotec/Sigma Aldrich Nitric Oxide Explosion | 09/21/2003 | Chemical Manufacturing | Explosion, Chemical Release |
| Chevron Richmond Refinery Pipe Rupture and Fire | 08/06/2012 | Petroleum Refining | Chemical Release, Fire |
| Horsehead Holding Company Fatal Explosion and Fire | 07/22/2010 | Metals | Explosion, Fire |
| Enterprise Pascagoula Gas Plant Explosion and Fire | 06/27/2016 | Oil And Gas Production | Chemical Release, Explosion |
| Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery Fire and Explosions | 06/21/2019 | Petroleum Refining | Chemical Release, Explosion |
| Williams Olefins Plant Explosion and Fire | 06/13/2013 | Chemical Manufacturing | Bleve, Chemical Release |
| BP America (Texas City) Refinery Explosion | 03/23/2005 | Petroleum Refining | Explosion, Fire |
| Tosco Avon Refinery Petroleum Naphtha Fire | 02/23/1999 | Petroleum Refining | Fire, Flash Fire |
| Concept Sciences Hydroxylamine Explosion | 02/19/1999 | Chemical Manufacturing | Explosion, Chemical Release |
| Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases | 01/23/2023 | Chemical Manufacturing | Chemical Release, Explosion |
Related Hazard Types¶
Chemical Release · Fire · Explosion · Structural Failure · Flash Fire
Related Equipment¶
Valve Failures in Process Plant Incidents · Pump Failures and Process Safety Incidents · Pipeline Ruptures, Leaks, and Fires · Relief Valve Failures and Overpressure Events · Heat Exchanger Failures and Fires · Pressure Vessel Explosions and Failures
Data sourced from CSB.gov public investigation reports. This site is an independent project not affiliated with the U.S. CSB.