Pemex’s Deer Park refinery resumes operations, faces investigation

HOUSTON, Oct. 18— Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) subsidiary Pemex Transformación Industrial (PTI) Norteamérica SA de CV has resumed operations following an Oct. 10 chemical leak that led to two fatalities at the operator’s 340,000-b/d refinery in Deer Park, Harris County, Tex. (OGJ Online, Oct. 11, 2024).

The leak of hydrogen sulfide from the refinery’s amine regeneration unit—which occurred during execution of maintenance works on the processing equipment—was mitigated and stopped by the refinery’s on-site team within a 3-hour period on Oct. 10, with the site declared safe to resume activities that same day, Pemex said in its latest updates on the incident.

The Deer Park refinery is continuing to work closely with federal, state, and local agencies in the wake of the chemical release, the cause of which has yet to be determined, the company said.

On Oct. 11, the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced the launch of its own investigation into the fatal chemical release, which resulted in the deaths of two contract workers and “an additional 13 workers reportedly…transported to local medical facilities.”

While no immediate impacts to surrounding areas have been confirmed, Steve Owens, chairperson of CSB—board members of which are appointed by the US President subject to confirmation by the US Senate confirmation—noted the seriousness of the incident as cause for the CSB’s investigation.

“This is a very serious incident that caused multiple fatalities and injuries and potentially put the surrounding community at risk,” Owens said.

The toxic release also prompted a shelter-in-place order for two neighboring cities, and a portion of Texas State Highway 225 was closed temporarily, the CSB said.

While it does not issue citations or fines, CSB makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) OSHA and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).