Accident Description
Accident: BP America (Texas City) Refinery Explosion
Location: Location: Texas City, TX
Accident Occurred On: 23 March 2005 | Final Report Released On: 20 March 2007
Accident Type: Oil and Refining - Fire and Explosion
Investigation Status: The Board approved its final report by a vote of 5-0 at a public meeting in Texas City on March 20, 2007.
At approximately 1:20 p.m. on March 23, 2005, a series of explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit. Fifteen workers were killed and 180 others were injured. Many of the victims were in or around work trailers located near an atmospheric vent stack. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, causing a geyser-like release from the vent stack.
Learn more about the CSB's BP Texas City investigation here: https://www.csb.gov/bp-america-texas-city-refinery-explosion/