Husky Energy Wisconsin Lawsuit: Investigation Finds Explosion Occurred in Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit

Our law firm has been contacted about a lawsuit against Husky Energy for the explosion at the Superior, Wisconsin, refinery owned by the company. The investigation into the cause of this explosion is focusing on a fluid catalytic cracking unit. 

Investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) told Wisconsin MPR they have discovered that the initial explosion in the huge Husky Energy Refinery accident happened in a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCC). That component is used to produce more gasoline during the refining process. The refinery is located in Superior, Wisconsin.

That unit is used when crude oil is heated to make petroleum based products. The FCC uses a catalyst to break large molecules of gas oil into smaller molecules. The intermediate products produced are butane, other lighter hydrocarbons, gasoline, light gas oil, heavy gas oil, and clarified slurry oil.

Investigators will conduct a metallurgic analysis of the unit to see if they can find any weaknesses, failures, or flaws such as cracks. They will look for metal fatigue and other issues that may have caused the unit to fail and break apart during a plant shutdown for repairs.

No one has been inside the refinery since the explosion because the building is not safe. Officials think that investigators can get into the refinery within the next week.

Wisconsin Husky Energy Explosion Injured 20 People

At least 20 people were injured in the explosions and fires that occurred on April 26, 2018. Eleven people were sent to the hospital. One of the workers suffered serious blast injuries.

More than 70 squares miles in the town of Superior, Wisconsin had to be evacuated after the explosion because the plant uses hydrogen fluoride (HF) to refine the oil. Superior Mayor Jim Paine has asked Husky Energy to stop using that chemical and to convert to a safer compound.

According to OSHA, hydrofluoric acid, which is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water, is “hazardous and corrosive and, if accidentally released, can form a vapor cloud. If the vapor cloud is concentrated enough it can be toxic until sufficiently dispersed. In the past five years, there have been a number of accidental releases of this acid from alkylation units at major petroleum refineries in the United States.” Contact with HF liquid or vapor can produce chemical burns and can cause death when people are exposed to it at high concentrations.

The law firm of Pritzker Hageman has years of experience representing those who have been injured in work explosions and we have recovered millions for our clients. We start to work for you the moment we are hired, investigating the accident, and collecting evidence. You can learn more about our work on our FAQ page. Call attorneys Fred Pritzker or Eric Hageman at 1-888-377-8900 for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.

Sources

Kaeding, Danielle. “Safety Board: Superior Refinery Explosion Happened In Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit.” Wisconsin Public Radio, May 1, 2018.

U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Fluid catalytic cracking is an important step in producing gasoline.” Today In Energy, December 11, 2012.

OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins. “Use of Hydrofluoric Acid in the Petroleum Refining Alkylation Process.” United States Department of Labor, November 19, 1993.