Accident at ConocoPhillips refinery in Borger, Texas Injures 13

Thirteen workers were hurt on Saturday in a process upset  at ConocoPhillips’ refinery in Borger, Texas.  The Borger refinery is a 50/50 business venture with Cenovus Energy , and is able to process up to 146,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

ConocoPhillips reported a brief emissions event Saturday at its Borger, Texas, refinery stemming from an upset at a key gasoline-making unit.  The filing to state environmental regulators did not indicate whether operations were affected.  Conoco reported this process upset as occurring in the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit at its refinery.  The sudden “steam release” did not actually cause the workplace injuries.  The release led to an evacuation during which many workers were injured.

A Conoco representative indicated that a steam line failed during maintenance, causing a portion of the refinery to be evacuated.  During this evacuation, several workers were hurt, with some workers sustaining broken bones.  The injured refinery workers were taken to Golden Plains Community Hospital in Borger.  Hospital officials said workers were treated for fractures, sprains, scrapes and other abrasions.

Conoco is investigating this incident.