Behind the Curve

A safety video about the fatal April 2, 2010, explosion and fire at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington. The accident occurred during startup of the refinery’s “naphtha hydrotreater unit” after a maintenance shut down. A nearly 40-year-old heat exchanger violently ruptured, causing an explosion and fire that fatally injured seven workers - the largest loss of life at a U.S. refinery since 2005.

[@leftseat150]

I bet every company in these videos had a “safety first” sign at the gate.

[@GeneralChangOfDanang]

"Safety first, but not too safe or you're canned"

[@ImplantedMemories]

Our near Total refinery in Germany does, with currently 637 days without any Personal damage accident

[@yo64yo]

@@ImplantedMemories so what happened 637 days ago (667 now probably) XD

[@ImplantedMemories]

now 701 days

[@mattblom3990]

Amen.

[@xwinger15]

The part about them saying leaks during startup were considered “normal” because they happened all the time scares me. That type of attitude is what leads to these disasters.

[@stou]

Definitely scary. This kinda of thinking was a significant factor in the loss of both space shuttles. Debris shedding and hitting the orbiter was considered normal and so was launching on cold days. When you get away with it a few times you star thinking it's ok.

[@titaniumsandwedge]

It is possible that a cold flange can leak until it heats up to processing temperatures. This does not make it right.

[@sonicdrive]

I'm a pipefitter and we work on units like this all the time.. there are protocols for leak checks and having leaks are NOT normal.

[@deckvillas195]

Definitely not normal. Usually every after opening and closing of any hydrocarbon processing equipment there is a leak testing procedure usually with water or nitrogen. There was no any mention of that.

[@powerjbn9283]

All3X normalization of deviance

[@AlexDonnett]

" hey the heat exchangers are leaking again" ".........thats normal keep going"

[@46bovine]

Hey, what about that fire? That will go out. In a refinery? That's why you get paid so well, so shut up!

[@46bovine]

Yeah, we especially like it when they catch fire. Nothing like small fires in a refinery, what fun!

[@bpomanitoba_fpomanitoba]

@@46bovine scary shit if I got fired or laid off I rat on there asses for the risks to OSHA and Or Safe Work Manitoba (if this was in my home province)

[@Silasssssssss]

Hello i work in a similar area. If things are repeated often enough, they'll be considered normal

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

@@Silasssssssss Fair enough, but I hope you at least try to promote mitigating behavior that acknowledges warning signs for what they are. For an industry to change, the people must change first. No matter what guidelines and laws are set forth, nothing will change unless people take things seriously.

[@obfuscated3090]

The solution to not dying in the aviation world is requiring periodic non-destructive inspections (x-ray, borescope, etc) and removing equipment from service on a schedule BEFORE it shits the bed. These processes are also used in civil aviation. Letting anything in a refinery go forty years is absurd. It's only steel and the industry is far from poor. Lost production alone should be motivation to replace old equipment long before failure but you cannot trust industry to care about anything but short term profits.

[@TheLouisianan]

It really is absurd. I work at a paper mill that was originally built in 1957 and we still have equipment in use from that time. We have so many things break it's only a matter of time that someone gets hurt. Paper mills and chemical companies in general are all cheap and don't care about the people working for them.

[@AmericasAnimals]

@@TheLouisianan Sad.

[@TheLouisianan]

I hate it, it's the old man culture that keeps it that way.

[@jizzle779]

Insurance profits LuL

[@TheTrueAdept]

Here is the thing, the civil aviation industry has the constant threat of this little thing called CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS and that their profit margin is reliant on their public image. Most other industries don't have that keeping them in check. Also, a lot of the equipment lasted this long is due to to the fact that when they were made, they were basically Ragnarok proofed and had oodles of spares on hand. I go to a forum where a fellow member worked at this factory that worked with industrial dyes and plastics and had to work with these machines. Just to STARTUP these machines means thousands of dollars and take an entire DAY to properly start. Since stockholders have a 'I WANT MY ROI AND FUCK ALL ELSE' attitude, running machines, equipment, and buildings beyond their breaking point will continue and damn the consequences. So, you'll have to make the stockholders responsible but that would absolutely wreck your ability to have an economy...

[@jhyland87]

Honestly, im really impressed with the animations in these CSB videos. The skill level and time required to creat these videos isn't lost on me one bit. Great work!

[@ashermccready]

i especially like how they don't waste effort on stuff that isn't strictly necessary, which leads to some entertaining moments. like at 2:53 where the dude just kinda slides around and floats up the ladder cause why bother animating a fancy walk in a safety video about high temperature hydrogen.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

one of the most scary words here are 'SUCCUMB TO BURNS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS...' I do not think we can imagine the suffering these guys went through...

[@noahater5785]

That’s the least of your problems, succumbing to your injuries within mere HOURS after the accident is even worse 😬

[@morrighanwermarn-arnburg7333]

They should have a TV Show. Similar to Mayday Air crash Investigation.

[@Syclone0044]

Amber Maynard Mayday is my favorite show on TV! Every episode is more thrilling for me than any Hollywood movie I've ever seen. There's always a point where I gasp and say "Oh shit... Oh, fuck!!!"

[@DoubleMonoLR]

Mayday has got a bit disappointing for me, they seem to avoid the more interesting and complex cases now.The Erebus crash in Antarctica (Air NZ) being one example(the company covering it up, etc), there was talk of Mayday covering it but that never eventuated.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

@@DoubleMonoLR I am sure I saw some form of Mayday documentary on Erebus.. I think it was possibly done as a Smithsonian Doc here is a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKDLm4N3ZpaqapI

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

in terms of the Dramas, the channel Bad-day HQ has a lot on this theme.... a few good docs also exist on ZeroHour mining-disasters if your're allowed access to it... (though that depends on who owns the rights to the programming under local law..., whilst public in my part of the world, in some regions KZbin blocks these docs on copyright grounds)

[@melvinmariott8609]

The CSB TV show would be the most popular TV show on television on the first day it showed an beyond for sure.

[@ThePzrLdr]

The threat of a hydrogen explosion at the factory I used to work at was the reason microscopic inspection of the water jacket of the blast furnace I ran was done at the end of each run, usually 8 days. Damaged sections were removed and replaced at that time.

[@goose300183]

Definitely a scary culture. "Boss! It's leaking, and it's on FIRE!" "Don't worry son, that's normal." Which in this case led to a horrible loss of life and devastating consequences for these poor men's families. All for not having to spend money on making a piece of hazardous equipment safe. This should NEVER happen in a civilised country. Well-being and safety is worth more than money. Unfortunately, some corporations do not seem to agree with that statement.

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

I hope whichever workers at that plant told those killed workers that the leaks were 'normal' regret their words to this day.

[@shadetreader]

This isn't a civilised country, it's a capitalist one. 😒

[@RozarSmacco]

These wussies would rather no work ever get done rather taking any risk…sorry safety board ie red tape clogger…life cannot ever be 100% PERFECTLY safe…

[@barryross5840]

You're all the good guys. Keep up the great work.

[@dfdemt]

I’m a firefighter/paramedic so I love all of these CSB videos, I watch all of them I can find here on KZbin. They’re like mini-documentaries.

[@Syclone0044]

Mike105 Same! And WorkSafeBC does equally excellent work. Except I don't work in any of these industries. I'm just fascinated with investigating cause and effect in catastrophes.

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

Well... they *are* documentaries. Just without the excessive fluff you find in most documentaries.

[@Utubin]

@@Syclone0044 Mee too.

[@julieekamps8182]

my uncle was one of the 7 workers who passed 😭😢 rip darrin jay 😢❤

[@barryross5840]

Juliee kamps I am a pipe welder in Canada, work in refineries away from my family, just had 3 evacuation this week. My heart goes out to ya.

[@ptonpc]

RIP. I hope you got some justice

[@dusterdude238]

@Justin Soles you are totally Sick Human being Dude!

[@Delicioushashbrowns]

@Tim Scotty I'm glad you were able to get to safety. Take care out there. :)

[@jhyland87]

@@dusterdude238 why? What did he say that was so terrible?..

[@nityking1]

im not even mad my taxes go to this

[@memadmax69]

These videos are created and sent off as a teaching tool for other workers/companies/schools/etc... ... the money is most certainly not being wasted.

[@Maadhawk]

These videos are some of the best analysis, lessons learned, and training videos I have ever seen. They definitely have some skilled animators.

[@orangejoe204]

Me neither, and I'm a Libertarian. Only an asshole or somebody making money on the issue thinks that straightforward, accurate and well-funded industrial accident analysis is an unreasonable burden for industries to bear. Any facility involving tremendous potential energy (be it chemical, electrical, nuclear or whatever) needs to have a neutral 3rd party breaking their balls unless you want the country to start looking like the Chinese e-waste graveyards or the Russian oil fields. "Acceptable risk" in these circumstances needs to be managed by an outside auditor, it's simply a fact. Industry always wants to blame the workers for being stupid while the unions always want to blame the management for being stupid. They're both corporations with a financial interest in the "other guy" getting blamed. I've personally seen atrocious accidents caused by both of these lines of thought, and most of the time, both management and the workers did something stupid. CSB/WSB, OSHA, and every other letter agency all have anonymous 1-800 tip lines for unsafe practices, and workers who call are protected by whistleblower legislation. It's just that (in my experience) 99% of workers either think "Not my problem, why worry?" or "I can't risk getting fired over this." Both of those attitudes are major contributors to lack of internal industry safety; if the corporations don't fear their employees narking on them, they know they can get away with virtually anything.

[@lbochtler]

If i where living the land of the free, id be happy to pay taxes for this!

[@daveb5041]

@@orangejoe204 trump is going to get rid of the ENTIRE CSB by cutting its budget from the 2019 federal budget. Don't expect more videos but expect a lot more deaths. MAYBE the democrats will be able to save the CSB, maybe not. These are regulations they save lives but cut a tiny % into profits. THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE How can you be libertarian AND make these statements? The heart/ core value of that party is that companies can police themselves, well they can with disastrous results, look at all these video WITH regulations in place. We don't allow people to police themselves and people have a conscious corporations do not.

[@omega_8846]

Why am i watching this? Most importantly why am I enjoying this?

[@pemungkah]

It’s beautiful data presentation, clearly explained, step by step. It’s like a well-done reveal of the culprit in a mystery, with all the clues and steps visually presented. Just altogether outstanding teaching, which is always interesting.

[@scowell]

You know what we don't get to hear? Whether the industry organizations actually implemented the recommendations. The CSB has no teeth, and only does recommendations... if we could learn (in these videos) whether the recommendations were implemented this would 'close the circle' on these incidents. It's depressing to hear incident after incident and not know if anything was actually done about the cause.

[@cheapskateaquatics7103]

I work for Tesoro ( now Andeavor ), they harcore ramped up safety after the incident at all of their refineries.

[@TheTrueAdept]

The thing is that departments like the NTSB and CSB are able to thoroughly and intensively investigate incidents is BECAUSE they aren't the ones making the laws and regulations. Laws and regulations are heavily political, so you might get the problem of having your own investigation agencies be ineffectual because of said politics.

[@marknutt2425]

This is very true. Ethical company owners use CSB reports like this to make their procedures safer, but like you said there's no requirement. And sadly there won't be one until a massive accident happens killing many numbers of people. Very few of what the CSB discovers actually becomes a federally required regulation

[@DugrozReports]

There was a mention at the tail end of the video that this plant upgraded to exchangers made of safer material AFTER the accident.

[@scowell]

@@DugrozReports I'm glad they did... did the industry organization implement recommendations, or did the plant just do it on their own? Are other plants free to not do this?

[@floydoroid]

These unseen dangers make me beyond grateful for organizations like you.

[@kodysmessedup]

I absolutely love this channel. Every government agency should have channels like this🤷🏼‍♂️

[@JK-mo2ov]

Something common with all of these is lack of replacement of aging or malfunctioning equipment until there’s a catastrophic failure. These obviously should have had inspections and a defined lifetime for replacement.

[@onewayturtles]

I started the video and I was like, oh, this is the one that happened when I was in high school and killed the father of one of my classmates. Nope. Same refinery; different accident.

[@johndoyle4723]

I used to work in this type of industry, glad I am now out. The photo of the bent tube bundle just before the 6 min mark, shows the violence of the failure. A 40year old exchanger, that has been repeatedly de-scaled, and routinely leaks on re-assembly, is worrying, maybe it had been re-tubed, or re-shelled, maybe not. Very sorry for the loss of life, it was my worst nightmare whilst I ran a very small refinery.

[@GeraldMMonroe]

Perhaps this is just SOP everywhere on a refinery, but if those large valves had been servo-driven, there wouldn't have needed to be 7 workers standing in the danger zone for the naptha and hydrogen. To me that seems like the real safety issue - you cannot make equipment that never fails, but if humans aren't danger close, they won't be killed when things go wrong.

[@Syclone0044]

Wow! This 1080p full HD computer animation is the best I've ever seen in any of these type of videos. It's amazing how realistic it's getting. 👏🏼👏🏼

[@petertimowreef9085]

These videos are so good at pointing out how little I know.

[@poop-yd4kc]

It takes multiple people who been doing this going to school for this their whole life so it's ok

[@poop-yd4kc]

To build these

[@dstevans]

0:20 "The largest loss of life at a US refinery since..." me: "Oh he's gonna say something like 1950." "...2005" (5 years earlier) me: "....not taking work at refineries. Nope nope"

[@alexanderjordan9894]

They have a video on that incident as well. "Anatomy of a Disaster"

[@w.d.gaster3100]

I’m not sure why but the narrators voice is so calming for some reason and plus despite the fact that I’m not really interested in the chemicals and research except if it’s nuclear I still love this

[@tcb268]

I worked at refineries in the 2000's in Australia and leaks or fires were definitely not considered normal.

[@susanwahl6322]

I always hated being graded on the curve.

[@2manycatsforadime]

guess it depends if you set the curve or are a victum of the curve.

[@kaythreefox6005]

Ive been binging these videos for the past week or so. I love the presentation and professionalism in these videos!

[@RonFrisard]

Fantastic video as usual - I have been deeply interested in this story since I am in the heat exchanger sealing industry. I thought I heard that the HTHA might of been more pronounced because the refinery did not follow the guidelines of the heat exchanger regarding heat up rate. This rapid heating rate was done to shorten the time of the leaks but was interested if this might of caused granular damage to the metal structure because of extreme temperature changes.

[@andres14142]

As a Chemical Engineer I have to say this channel is amazing. Thanks for this really interesting work.

[@daveb5041]

*FOUR YEARS LATER THESE RECOMENDATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWED BY THIS OR ANY COMPANY*

[@mrwalkway4740]

Jesus...

[@PurityVendetta]

From studying these videos it seems to be an integral part of the American profit above safety ethos. It's cheaper to pay a bit of compensation and fix the ensuing carnage. Look at how Union Carbide simply blew off the accusations after the Bohpal disaster. The big money simply doesn't care in the land of being free to kill if it's profitable.

[@TheTrainChasingPoet1999]

@@PurityVendetta Put me in the oval office in 2036 and that'll change. There is NO EXCUSE for killing people in the name of fuel. I've grown up with an ethanol plant in a neighboring city, where my grandfather worked between his time in the navy and his time in the town fire department. It's had a few accidents in the past (according to Grandpa's stories), but it's actually a pretty safe place to work all in all, because plant management learned from their mistakes. Chemical plants across the nation could stand to learn a thing or two from that ethanol plant. And by God, when I become president, I'm gonna put Texas through the wringer! Not just the rest of the nation!

[@PurityVendetta]

@@TheTrainChasingPoet1999 I gladly would but unfortunately I am a UK citizen so can't vote for you.

[@TheTrainChasingPoet1999]

@@PurityVendettaStill! If I get elected, 2036 will be the year that the petrochemical industry kisses my boots. DuPont and BP especially can expect no clemency.

[@TheReubenShow]

"As Low as Reasonably Practicable" is putting a value on human life. Which we do already, but it is not the only attitude that is possible. I also watch Work Safe BC videos from Canada, and there they speak of always getting safer. The videos are a lot like these but more. . . .Canadian. Also, a lot of great chainsaw tips.

[@brandysigmon9066]

It costs significantly more to construct heat exchangers from the "better" steel. Cost is a major deciding factor even over safety in the design and build of all the plants

[@GeorgeSweet]

It’s morbid how much money these refineries pump out and yet they don’t invest even the bare minimum into their golden goose to maintain it’s production.

[@tahustvedt]

I appreciate the CGI. It's well done for the kind of video this is.

[@louisimisson9065]

People like to diss the animation of the people on this channel but I love it, Guys please dont change a thing You are doing it perfectly!

[@Nick-jr6qe]

WHY CANT I STOP WATCHING THESE

[@snowmoth4ever]

Sadly, the unspoken rule/norm in this type of industry is "profits before safety" It is deeply embedded in the culture and well known but never spoken of. Say something and as an employee you just signed your pink slip

[@VanessaScrillions]

This is such a great video. Very sad tragedy... Thank you for making this video

[@esamesam6312]

Thank you very much. This channel treasure.

[@jomazu7874]

I like how the Worker is just sliding around in a static pose but when the camera comes closer he turns into a realistic animated human

[@djodin2194]

Thanks for another great detailed video on process safety. Animations are getting better too. Is there any other reason to use carbon steel, istead of more resistant steels in this type of equipment, than saving costs?

[@ForTehNguyen]

heat exchanger could be old, built with older materials, and that metallurgy wasn't available back then

[@trespire]

I am not a metallurgist, but I think most high alloyed chromium - molybdenum steels not only cost more, but might be tougher to work (bending & forming) than a less alloyed carbon steel. It's a question of engineering cost.

[@ForTehNguyen]

during design perhaps that Nelson Curve was used to justify the use of carbon steel because it would operate in the safe area under the curve. But then later it was applied incorrectly when the plant personnel did not use actual operating temperatures to check with the curve but instead used design values. They said the scaling makes the exchanger run hotter too. Since they used design parameters instead of actual running it gave them a false sense of security that hydrogen attack wasnt happening when it really was and resulted in less diagnostic maintenance and resulting in it rupturing.

[@trespire]

ForTehNguyen You hit the nail on the head ! The difference between theoretical "perfect working conditions" and those of "real world" operational conditions is what separates the good engineers with hands on in the field experience from arm chair thinkers. Understanding how a piece of equipment operates with all that can go wrong (and will go wrong) is a science on to itself.

[@aroxchannel]

This failure had nothing at all to do with carbon steel. If you knew anything about corrosion engineering or metallurgy you would undestand the truth. CSB is incompetent. The Nelson Curves are just fine.

[@TheXxchazzxx]

Seeing this stuff makes me not want to work in plants and refineries

[@xwinger15]

Mario Herrera me too... but still going back tomorrow morning :(

[@AbelG8781]

Mario Herrera the likelihood of this happening is incredibly low

[@drink15]

That thought process is how accidents happen.

[@MrRedeyedJedi]

@@drink15 the irony being these workers would still be alive if they didn't want to work in factories or refinaries? Lol

[@TaurionMartell]

I work at a 60 year old rafinery.

[@mrwalkway4740]

Imagine how much it sucks to be Nelson in this situation

[@Backyardmech1]

Anyone working in the hydrocarbon fractionating industry knows it’s inherently hazardous. Making smart decisions in the field, knowing your processes, limits of your equipment, and knowing when to tell engineers when to go turn valves themselves, with experience is key. A safety culture plays in too.

[@mnnchildhood]

Everybody gangster until you start floating up a ladder

[@johnwaldron2355]

I want this guy to do the voiceover of my funeral

[@Shadowsoul2701]

Here in our town in PA we know what rusty pipes can do. There used to be a steel mill here. Keyword: WAS. One of the building exploded and a massive pipe collapsed. They just ended up closing it down.

[@metalman6708]

Regular worker: "Sir everytime we start up the machine it leaks and starts fires. Do you think we should do something about that?" Management: "Be quiet! Well just have more people scheduled to put out the fires when we go thru startup"

[@quinndirks5653]

More people need to see these videos.

[@phasm42]

Looking forward to hearing what CSB's investigation of the recent Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery explosion reveals.

[@homefront3162]

On of my fav channels

[@bcubed72]

Couldn't you use eddy-current testing for stress fracture without even disassembling the heat exchanger?

[@crunch9876]

bcubed72 how about X-rays?

[@patw52pb1]

Yes, ultrasonic NDT is also used.

[@jaredbourgeois4593]

bcubed72 I think the problem here is they were operating in conditions thought to be resistant to HTHA so they never thought there was a need to worry about this type of cracking, but surprise, API data was bad

[@jfbeam]

I don't know if the API data was, in fact, bad. (a) no one considered the effects of 40 years of heat cycling. (b) no one was monitoring the _actual_ conditions inside the units; they very likely were being operated beyond the curve. And (c) no one bothered to ever actually inspect the conditions of these 40 year old rust buckets.

[@IlanHirschfield]

jfbeam models give you a false sense of security that you’re operating in a safe zone when really you’re not. The specific location on the Nelson curve of the pipes from the Tesoro refinery was below the curve and seemingly safe. They weren’t. Armchair models often don’t stand up to real-world conditions or get modified to take those into account

[@harshoperator416]

Whyyyyy do I keep watching these videos lol

[@nobubelegumbo3144]

Not me binge watching this whole channel

[@grantjohnston5817]

Used to work for Shell on 600 foot gasoline tanker and the total disregard for training,emergency procedure etc was dreadful.

[@lordbored2706]

This animation is next level

[@2manycatsforadime]

How high of a temperature until hydrogen cracking starts? Is this a sustained temperature lasting many hours? During startup manual valves had to have operators in dangerous situations. Why were the valves not remotely operated?

[@ianmoseley9910]

Bob K Basically the equipment was 40 years old - still seemed to be working so the company would not wish to spend money modernising it

[@1495978707]

6:00 Sigh… people that don’t understand thermodynamics/statistical mechanics don’t realize that for *every* temperature and partial pressure there will be some nonzero amount of attack. A curve like that is just delineating an acceptably low rate/risk. But that curve was likely made with maybe years of data, not decades, and there was likely expectation of routine inspection and maintenance. But it seems this plant just thought “well it’s below the curve, so we never need to replace it”.

[@eliasthienpont6330]

All very nice. Who inspects the integrity of the entire system, checking the many miles of piping and components both inside and outside of these vessels? Mission impossible comes to mind. When a product such as a heat exchange is taken off line, it should be opened up, the coils removed and inspected, and then the pressure vessel inspected inside and out. X-ray, ultra sound and other technologies need to be employed. Lasers can measure inside and outside thicknesses and compare these to original specifications. Clearly a bank of three or four heat exchanges should be used to allow for such comprehensive shutdowns on perhaps an annual basis. Великий и Славный и самый Имперский ЛЕВ 🦁

[@davidicke2415]

yeah, but that's expensive and time consuming... /S Obviously these measures need to be taken no matter the initial cost or cost of lost productivity... Large companies are just hesitant to do so because it could interrupt production, even when an accident could cost them much more...

[@smartman123]

very very professional channel and God help us from fire

[@christycullen2355]

After watching most of these documentaries, what shocks me most is how often these accidents seem to happen in America. They always seem to be from some sort of neglect of maintenence as well

[@mjallen1308]

@0:41 Did the report include the fire animation? If so, was it a flip book style animation?

[@montaderali8656]

Did the API revise the nelson curve or prohibit the use of CS in equipments susceptable for HTHA ?

[@davidbradley3074]

Great Video!

[@leanbusiness6487]

Companies should be well aware of long term degradation effects and have monitoring and mitigation strategies in place.

[@FullyCharged22]

Who is this voice actor!? He used to be on aircraft investigations when I was a kid and his voice is amazing.

[@Splits-man]

For 2014 the computer generated graphics are excellent. They really tell the story well.

[@rogerscottcathey]

U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, or CSB, makes great safety vids.

[@mauricedavis2160]

Stay vigilant and thank you!!! 🙏

[@goneutt]

I knew it as hydrogen embrittlement, and it's been a problem in trying to run engines on hydrogen fuel.

[@CCWSig]

Hydrogen Embrittlement is also what we commonly refer to it as well. I work for a large fastener company, and our products are commonly used in heat exchangers and boilers. We've developed some coatings that are more immune to HE, but it is still a problem.

[@deciuscaeciliusmetellus7197]

I know it's a bit late, but hydrogen embrittlement is caused by the diffusion of hydrogen to dislocations and grain bounderies and the forming of metal hydrides. HTHA is, in comparison, caused by a reaction between the hydrogen and the carbon in the steel, forming methane, which can't defuse and therefore causes cracks. These two are very different processes

[@filanfyretracker]

I know its a challenge in rocketry, The way H2 and O2 react with metals at high temperatures is a challenge for engineers. Even if the temperature is below the point that would structurally weaken the metal.

[@LewdCustomer]

I notice all the workers are in really good shape. Very fit.

[@Sashazur]

They also all look related to eachother.

[@johng4155]

I can't believe at any point that leakage of a bolted joint is acceptable after maintenance.

[@lawofeffect]

I love these vids.

[@anotherdayisforever]

Lauren Grim is slammin.

[@willybloo]

The scaffolding around the heat exchangers looked like a giant grill. I can't get that out of my mind.

[@513morris]

"Nearly 40 year old HE" - smh

[@prodima3]

I drove past that plant a few times and always wondered what they did there

[@squelchedotter]

One factor I'm not sure why people discard is the lack of Unions to fight back against skimping on safety in the US. You won't be surprised to find countries with strong unions, such as denmark, norway, germany and belgium near the top of the list in workplace safety.

[@arionerron4273]

@/X/EN what negatives?

[@suzanneaufang4976]

I wish that they would report on the greedy and/or arrogant idiots responsible and the price they paid for their arrogants!!!!!

[@madloop3217]

Would it be any chances anyhow to join you guys?

[@Kuwaiti55]

Why its happened directly after maintenance? I think the main cause due to wrong operation as they might not start it gradually which caused cracking in aged shell on a cold night.

[@flailios]

Kuwaiti55 You're just speculating. The CSB found the cause to be HTHA, not metal fatigue caused but temperature variations. You're not only just speculating, you're wrong.

[@titaniumsandwedge]

Kuwaiti55> When a process unit is started up temperatures and pressures rise until steady state conditions are reached. In this case it is possible the expansion of the S&T exchanger's shell due to temperature tripped the weakened shell. Consider an ICE car: most of the damage to the engine is done as it is heating up.

[@j-man6001]

Im sure the company/corporation hurriedly tried to destroy all documents to cover their asses as soon as the accident occurred. Such recklessness, all of the management responsible should have at least had manslaughter charges brought upon them. And hefty fines from the all the CEO's personal pockets to all of the victims family!

[@fuckdyoud2734]

damn this title alone seethed so much direct criticism I had to click it.

[@eyreland]

Location: Fulsom Lake Description: All dams should be anticipated to shatter, particularly in the foothills of the mountain building region of the Sierras! We have stated that salt flats, which the California valley is at base, are stable and less likely to shatter than those areas which obviously have sustained mountain building in the past. Folsom Lake is not on the flat valley floor, but in the area subject to mountain building. Folsom Lake dam will shatter, and the lake in any case be salt water. However, those living in the area are ideally suited for the pole shift survival technique we recommended - to be on the salt flats of the valley flood during the hour of the shift, and then scamper into the foot hills of the Sierras before the tidal waves roll up the Delta to you. ZetaTalk 1: www.zetatalk.com/info/tinfx367.htm

[@reggier2343]

I would like to know how they determined the crack lenght and depth after the fact. Wouldn't the explosion make that difficult to determine?

[@sideshowfranky7245]

Reggie R2 difficult yes , but not impossible

[@Tindometari]

The explosion produces lots of fragments with fracture edges to study. Any pre-explosion fractures will have different features. Once the pieces get fitted back together like a jigsaw, the location of the pre-existing crack can be found.

[@TheMetalButcher]

The fresh break won't look like the old crack. The ild crack will be oxidised and fouled. The high heat in the fire will make it more difficult to tell, but I'm sure the experts are capable.

[@thurstonpowell8687]

It was a policy at my company to replicate the actions of the worker when the accident occurred usually resulting in injuries to the ladies holding the clip boards and taking notes. Most investigations into industrial accidents are attempts at determining the action of the worker at fault.

[@gerardngyz955]

Hydrogen embrittlement vs HTHA What is the difference?

[@zachjones6944]

I'm disgusted by the sloppiness of the petroleum industry. I learned in the nuclear navy that there is a zero-defect policy.

[@pommy_the_mimic]

3:25 Didn't know people could move like that...

[@mannyminds5262]

The Devils playground. I work in this industry. When working there, everything i do will hurt me. Even just walking in it. Thats my mind set when i spend most of my life here instead with the ones i love. The crews, operators are my family.

[@brandoncherry1651]

it's sad but interesting I used to haul wood chips to a paper mill and see all this crazy fortress like tanks and structures looked like something out of a syfy movie...wondered what that stuff does

[@justinbellotti7838]

This reminds me of Forensic Files television show.

[@vejet]

Note to self, never work at a refinery.

[@jamessmyth5949]

It seems that companies like this adopt an attitude akin to that of, it's better to let the plant run down leading to a catastrophic failure, killing workers in the process and a major loss of production and revenue than to properly maintain the plant leading to a safe workplace, minimal equipment downtime and higher production output.

[@gerardvinet8448]

This company should of upgraded to automatic control valves on their equiptment, where the start up sequence do not have to have so many people around the tanks and the start-up can be done in a more farther area of security?The company looks relatively modern but the internal structure was old & inspected not often, unfortunately!

[@ArieteArmsRAMLITE]

Why didn't they crack test when cleaning?

[@lukemullan636]

Shows how there has to be stricter regulations because, when left to their own devices, companies would rather take more hazardous actions that cost lives than potentially spend more money that impacts their bonus.

[@Nate-fi9pf]

I thought integrals were area under the curve? How you gonna take area behind the curve?

[@willasproth]

dx / dy

[@user-fl2wn5zr5z]

it costs more to repair than it does to pervent it

[@lantz66]

Why is any equipment like heat exchangers allowed to remain in service for 40 years? God forbid production gets shut down for any period of time.