Four Case Histories of Catastrophic Pipe Failures

Four Case Histories of Catastrophic Pipe Failures 

Here is a broad picture and some details on four of the worst piping disasters. 

Piping Rupture in a Los Angeles Refinery Results in a Vapor Cloud Explosion 

A six-inch carbon steel elbow in a Los Angeles refinery ruptured releasing a hydrocar-bon/hydrogen mixture at 9 43 P.M. on October 8, 1992. The vapor cloud ignited within seconds. The explosion damaged nearby buildings and shattered windows several miles away and was recorded as a sonic boom at the California Institute of Technology about 20 miles away. [21] 

One report stated that there were about 200 people staffing the plant at the time of the incident and 16 minor injuries caused primarily by flying debris. The fire department stated the blast was felt 40 miles away. [27] 

The explosion and subsequent fires fueled from damaged processing equipment resulted in about 78.3 million in property damage. The fires started with the explosion at 9 43 P.M. on October 8, 1992, and were finally extinguished at 2 00 a.m. on October 11, 1992. [21] 

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Four case histories of catastrophic pipe failures... 

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