Texas City Refinery explosion

On March 23, 2005, a fire and explosion occurred at Texas City Refinery in Texas, killing 15 workers and injuring more than 170 others.

 BP was charged with criminal violations of federal environmental laws, and has been subject to lawsuits from the victims' families. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration slapped BP with a then-record fine for hundreds of safety violations, and subsequently imposed an even larger fine after claiming that BP had failed to implement safety improvements following the disaster.

The explosion occurred in an isomerization unit at the site, resulting in the deaths and injuries. 

According to a report issued after the accident, actions taken or not taken led to overfilling the raffinate splitter with liquid, overheating of the liquid, and the subsequent over-pressurization and pressure relief. 

Hydrocarbon flow to the blowdown drum and stack overwhelmed it, resulting in liquids carrying over out of the top of the stack, flowing down the stack, accumulating on the ground, and causing a vapor cloud, which was ignited by a contractor's pickup truck as the engine was left running. 

The report identified numerous failings in equipment, risk management, staff management, working culture at the site, maintenance and inspection, and general health and safety assessments.