Investigation Underway Following Fatal Leak at LyondellBasell La Porte Plant
July 28, 2021
LyondellBasell said an investigation is already underway following an acetic acid leak at its La Porte facility in Texas on Tuesday night, leaving two people dead and 30 workers hospitalized.
The company said approximately 100,000 pounds of acetic acid was released at about 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday from a unit that was partially shut down earlier in the day due to planned maintenance
Clean up and decontamination at the site began on Tuesday, and there is no shelter in place or offsite impact or threat to air quality, according to local officials. LyondellBasell employees were given an all clear at the plant early Wednesday morning.
Decontamination of the acetyls unit area is to be completed before a more thorough investigation can begin.
The company did not say if the investigation would impact other portions of the La Porte complex, but it is posting further updates at www.lybresponse.com.
LyondellBasell's Equistar Chemicals business also produces Ethylene, Propylene, Linear Low-Density Polyethylene, and Low-Density Polyethylene at the La Porte complex. A force majeure was already in place on PE at La Porte, and sources familiar with operations at the facility said its cracker unit was offline after a short-lived restart earlier in the month.
By Brian Balboa for The Plastics Exchange.
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