SPECIAL TOPIC : Disaster Preparation / Mitigation Management
Natural Disaster Planning in the Petrochemical and Energy Sector
When considering the impact of a natural disaster , the foremost consideration is the impact to people in the region . The cost of lives and damage to private property . School closures , stifled food supplies and limited or restricted access to public areas are just a few common consequences of natural disasters . This ‘ human impact ’ is the picture portrayed in the media and the narrative that is projected to the wider world . A disruption in the energy supply similarly has a widespread effect on every aspect of life from turning the lights on at home to powering hospitals .
By Foster Voelker , Director of Engineering - William E . Williams Valve Corporation and Mike Dunn , Co-Owner - JS Machine and Valve Inc .
The impact of circumstances such as natural disasters , can significantly impact the operation and safety of oil refineries and power plants . These effects can be particularly adverse and dangerous for those containing toxic materials and hazardous chemicals which could further impact the environment and residents surrounding the area . Production is halted , supply is limited and , as was seen in the case of Hurricane Katrina , damage can be widespread and long lasting .
Lessons have been learned since instances like Hurricane Katrina , and now there is legislation and frameworks in place to help prepare for such disasters . However , this raises the questions , is this legislation fit for purpose ? Does it help the energy industry effectively plan for a natural disaster to reduce the impact of a disruption on production and
Image credit : https :// earthjustice . org / blog / 2020-october / what-happens-when-a-hurricane-smashes-into-fossil-fuels .
limit the damage caused by uncontrolled hazardous materials ? Standard Operating Procedures in petrochemical plants cover preparedness in the event of an emergency , but do they effectively deal with the enormity of damage that could be caused by an earthquake , flood , or fire ? Examples throughout history have dictated that work needs to be done proactively , to anticipate these emergencies , rather than reactively and risk situations worsening .
Examples of Natural Disasters That Could Affect the Oil and Chemical Industry
The U . S . is no stranger to natural disasters affecting its oil refineries and energy supplies . California is home to 15 operating oil refineries and is one of the most predictable areas for earthquakes . 1 In 2019 a major earthquake caused two large ethanol tanks to catch fire and a local evacuation was executed . 2 As hazardous materials and particulates filled the air , the impact was both immediate in terms of human safety , and long lasting , in terms of the disruption caused by halting refinery processing .
However , earthquakes are not the only natural disaster to affect refineries , power plants and petrochemical stations . Flooding due to storms , hurricanes , or tsunamis can cause major disruption and destruction including ( but not limited to ) damage to equipment or floating storage tanks , structural damage or failure , floating oil in the drainage systems , and power outages . A short circuit or power failure can shut down units that are left running during these events , including steam boilers , cooling towers , pumps , and electrically operated safety control mechanisms . 3
An additional risk to refineries and tank farms is lightning strikes . The average home in the U . S . has a 1-in-200 chance of being struck by lightning every year , meaning that a power plant , refinery , or tank farm of an immeasurably larger scale not only carries the risk of a lightning strike , but the damage is likely to be far greater . One such example is that of the Chevron El Segundo Lightning Strike . In 2019 lightning struck the Sulphur Acid Division of the refinery , causing a power dip across the entire plant and a total outage in the sulphur unit . Electric pumps were affected , furnaceinduced draft fans were out of action and overhead systems were offline . The only thing that helped to avoid any major safety risks was the recovery plan that Chevron had in place . By creating a natural disaster preparedness plan , specific parts of the system were prioritised to reduce the risk of an explosive environment , avoid flaring , and to avoid loss of flow in critical applications . 4
Current National Response Framework Legislation
Natural disaster preparedness is not simply a robust set of Standard Operating Procedures . It should be a requirement of each plant and refinery to have a plan in place for any and all eventualities , in order to reduce the risk of explosion or environmental hazard , and to minimise the disruption to production and supply .
In 2014 the National Petroleum Council pushed for legislation that would help the petroleum industry build resilience against the impact of a natural disaster . The National Response Framework was borne to provide a robust system working with government agencies , departments , and responders at the lo-
4 Valve World Americas | September 2022 • www . valve-world-americas . net