Investigation Report
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire
- CSB
- Investigation Report
- Hot Work and FireProcess Safety
- FireFunctional safetyHuman factorsLoss of containmentProcess safety
- Process pipework and pipelinesValve
- Alarm managementIndependent audit and verificationOperating and work proceduresRisk assessment
- Downstream and process industries
- Onshore facility
Summary
Investigation of a renewable diesel startup fire at Martinez, California, following heater tube rupture. Low process flow and afterburning caused overheating, releasing diesel and hydrogen and seriously injuring an operator. The report examines valve alignment, instrumented safeguards, combustion monitoring, alarm responses, human factors and corporate oversight, with recommendations and comparisons to earlier incidents.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Functional safety; safety instrumented systems; SIS.
Classifications: Human factors; human performance; ergonomics.
Classifications: Loss of containment; containment loss.
Classifications: Process safety; major accident hazards.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Alarm management.
Classifications: Independent audit and verification.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Downstream and process industries; refining; petrochemicals.
Classifications: Onshore facility; onshore plant.
Summary
The incident involved a fire event at the Hydrodeoxygenation Unit recycle furnace. One operator sustained serious burn injures as a result of the fire.
Themes: hot work and fire, process safety.