By David Alire Garcia and Erwin Seba
MEXICO CITY/HOUSTON (Reuters) -Pemex’s Deer Park oil refinery close to Houston discharged 43,500 kilos of extremely poisonous hydrogen sulfide fuel over greater than seven hours in a lethal incident earlier this week, based on the Mexican state-owned firm’s disclosure to a Texas regulator.
The accident on Thursday killed two contract employees whereas injuring 35 others throughout work on a unit on the refinery.
In line with Pemex’s preliminary report back to the Texas Fee on Environmental High quality, the Oct. 10 leak continued for 7 hours and 40 minutes. Over the course of the incident, the hydrogen sulfide discharge exceeded greater than 800 occasions the hourly emission restrict for the damaging fuel of 6.89 kilos per hour.
The info from the Texas regulator is dated Oct. 11.
The refinery, which encompasses a crude processing capability of 312,500 barrels per day, will function this weekend at a “low level” as Pemex investigates the reason for the leak, the corporate mentioned late on Friday in a press release.
Houston-based Buzbee Regulation Agency mentioned it had been retained by “several families impacted by this horrific incident.”
Pemex administration has operated the ability for almost three years.
Work was underway on a sulfur restoration unit on the time of the deadly discharge, based on folks accustomed to the matter.
The Deer Park refinery is a significant motor fuels provider to Mexico, the place the federal government has sought to cut back reliance on gasoline and diesel imports from non-Pemex refiners in a push to be extra vitality self-sufficient.
Pemex’s newly-appointed CEO Victor Rodriguez advised reporters on Friday morning that 13 employees remained hospitalized after being uncovered to the leak, whereas Mexico’s vitality minister mentioned on the identical briefing that she anticipated the ability to be again to regular operations afterward Friday.
However the firm walked again that expectation with its newest assertion.
“The refinery continues to operate in stable conditions at a low level, a level that will be kept in place during the weekend as long as it’s possible to have access to the areas to carry out the corresponding inspections,” the corporate mentioned in its Friday evening assertion.
Rodriguez, who took over earlier this month, famous on Friday that three or 4 models had been shut on the refinery following the leak.
The U.S. Chemical Security and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), which investigates industrial accidents and makes suggestions to stop future incidents, has additionally begun a probe of what it described as a “very serious incident.”
CSB mentioned late on Friday that its investigators ought to arrive on the refinery on Saturday.
Deer Park for many years was operated by oil main Shell (LON:), however Pemex took full possession of the refinery in early 2022, buying Shell’s 50% stake in what had been a long-standing three way partnership.
In 2021, Shell disclosed that it offered its curiosity in Deer Park to Pemex for some $596 million.
Pemex’s home refineries have for years suffered main accidents, together with explosions and fires, which have triggered deaths in Mexico.
