Conference Papers
On 02 June 2011, an explosion at Pembroke Oil Refinery occurred. The explosion occurred within a tank, which resulted in the roof and base of the tank being sheared. The roof was thrown more than 55m and the liquid contents were ejected from the base, starting a fire to the immediate area south of the vessel. The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in four fatalities and one severe injury. Key factors that led to the incident include various changes over several years and a lack of appreciation or understanding of the hazards and risks associated with these tanks.
As the biofuels industry continues to expand in support of global decarbonization mandates and objectives, facility owners and developers are being challenged to balance production efficiency, operational reliability, and personnel safety.
As high hazard facilities, biofuels sites should focus on developing a fire protections strategy informed by performance-based analysis so strategies implemented meet the unique challenges found at each facility.
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