What caused the Texas City explosion 1947?
On April 16, 1947, America’s worst harbor explosion occurred in Texas City, Tex., when the French ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate fertilizer, caught fire and blew up, devastating the town. The decision caused the fire to grow larger and hotter until it caused the ammonium nitrate to explode.
What caused the Texas City refinery explosion 2005?
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. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, causing a geyser-like release from the vent stack.
What exploded in Texas City?
On the morning of April 16, 1947, a fire started on the SS Grandcamp, a cargo ship docked in the Port of Texas City, igniting 2,300 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate fertilizer in its hold. The resulting explosion leveled the dock and surrounding industrial area and ignited two more explosions.
What was the worst industrial accident in America?
The 1947 Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the Port of Texas City, Texas, at Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest industrial accident in United States history and one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions.
Is ammonium nitrate used for fertilizer?
ammonium nitrate, (NH4NO3), a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. The commercial grade contains about 33.5 percent nitrogen, all of which is in forms utilizable by plants; it is the most common nitrogenous component of artificial fertilizers.
What causes oil refinery explosions?
Reasons for Refinery and Plant Explosions Common situations that include those three elements are careless cigarette smoking, defective equipment, poor safety procedures, well blowouts, poorly trained workers, and unseen corrosion.
What went wrong oil refinery disaster?
As vapors were sucked into its engine, an idling pickup at the base of the tower began to rev up, according to witnesses. A worker raced to turn it off, but he was too late. Somewhere in the cloud of fumes, perhaps in the truck’s engine, a spark touched off the gas and ignited a firestorm.
When did the Texas City explosion happen?
April 16, 1947
Texas City disaster/Start dates
Texas City explosion of 1947, industrial disaster sparked by the fire and explosion of the SS Grandcamp on April 16–17, 1947, in Texas City, Texas. The blast set off a chain of fires as well as a 15-foot (4.5-metre) tidal wave. Between 400 and 600 people were killed, with as many as 4,000 injured.
What is the deadliest industrial disaster in US history?
The 1947 Texas City disaster
The 1947 Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the Port of Texas City, Texas, at Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest industrial accident in United States history and one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions.
How much did the Texas City explosion cost?
In all, 581 people died and 3,500 were injured. The explosion caused $100 million in damages. A long-disputed court case over the cause of the blast was resolved when Congress granted compensation to 1,394 victims.
What happened in the 1947 Texas City disaster?
The 1947 Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the Port of Texas City, Texas, at Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest industrial accident in United States history and one of history’s largest non-nuclear explosions .
What happened at the Texas City Refinery in 2005?
Texas City Refinery explosion. The Texas City Refinery explosion occurred on March 23, 2005, when a hydrocarbon vapor cloud was ignited and violently exploded at the ISOM isomerization process unit at BP ‘s Texas City refinery in Texas City, Texas, killing 15 workers, injuring more than 180 others and severely damaging the refinery.
How many people died in the Texas City explosion?
14 of 74 Nearly 600 people died when a freighter docked at Texas City exploded. The huge cloud of smoke created by the 1947 explosion of the French ship Grandcamp caused many to fear that an atomic bomb had detonated. unknown/Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less
What caused the BP Oil Refinery explosion in Texas?
BP acquired the Texas county refinery as part of its merger with Amoco in 1999. BP’s own accident investigation report stated that the direct cause of the accident was “[…]heavier–than-air hydrocarbon vapors combusting after coming into contact with an ignition source, probably a running vehicle engine.