US: 3 Separate Oil Facilities Explode Suddenly in 24 Hours

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[I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence or whether it is a sign of something more ominous. Jan]

Three oil facilities in separate locations across Mexico and the United States have suffered huge fires after sudden explosions, according to reports.

The explosions all occurred in the space of 24 hours.

All three facilities, including one in Texas, are controlled by the state-owned Mexican oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX).

On Thursday, three separate fires broke out at PEMEX facilities, resulting in the deaths of two workers, Bloomberg reported.

At least eight people were also injured and several others are missing.

The explosions have resulted in increased scrutiny of the safety record of the Mexican state oil firm in advance of its earnings call on Monday.

The fires broke out at the PEMEX crude oil storage facility in Veracruz, Mexico, at the Combined Maya plant of the Minatitlán Refinery in Veracruz, and in Deer Creek, Texas.

One of the Veracruz locations hit by an explosion is Mexico’s largest oil storage facility.

On Friday morning, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico’s president, said at a press conference that the fire at the Minatitlan refinery was immediately brought under control.

However, he noted that the fire at the Ixhuatlan storage facility has not yet been extinguished.

He said, “in the case of Ixhuatlan, it will take more time because it occurred at an oil deposit.”

Below are the statements released by the company regarding the three separate incidents in one day.

PEMEX extinguishes fire in Cavity Tuzandepetl-331 in Veracruz:

Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) reports regarding the fire that broke out yesterday in the PM-119 drilling rig that provided maintenance to Cavity Tuzandepetl-331, in the municipality of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, Veracruz:

In the search activities for missing personnel, two bodies were found, which are being reviewed by the Forensic Medical Service, with prior authorization from the Federal Public Ministry.

Work continues to locate the three missing workers.

The two workers who remain hospitalized are stable and treated at the PEMEX Hospital.

PEMEX regrets the human losses, as well as the injuries that affected the health of the workers, and reiterates its commitment to their families.

Actions continue to be carried out to determine the causes that caused the fire in the drilling equipment and the cleaning of the place will begin.

Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) reports regarding the fire that broke out yesterday in the PM-119 drilling rig that provided maintenance to Cavity Tuzandepetl-331, in the municipality of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, Veracruz:

In the search activities for missing personnel, two bodies were found, which are being reviewed by the Forensic Medical Service, with prior authorization from the Federal Public Ministry.

Work continues to locate the three missing workers.

The two workers who remain hospitalized are stable and treated at the PEMEX Hospital.

PEMEX regrets the human losses, as well as the injuries that affected the health of the workers, and reiterates its commitment to their families.

Actions continue to be carried out to determine the causes that caused the fire in the drilling equipment and the cleaning of the place will begin.

PEMEX controls fire at the Maya Combined plant of the Minatitlán Refinery:

There is a record of five injured people who are treated by the medical services of this institution

There was no interruption in the operation of the plant and there is no record of damage to the facilities

Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) extinguished a fire in the area of the bank of heat exchangers of the Combined Maya plant of the Minatitlán Refinery, thanks to operating and fire-fighting personnel who managed to control the outbreak.

Due to this event, there is a record of five injured people who are treated by PEMEX medical services. Likewise, it is reported that there was no interruption in the operation of the plant and there is no record of damage to the refinery facilities.

It is presumed that the possible cause of the fire was the spillage of the product on a hot surface.

PEMEX reiterates its commitment to the safety of the workers that are part of this institution and carries out the root cause analysis of this incident.

PEMEX Director General Eng. Octavio Romero is supervising the assessment and cleanup of the damaged Cavity Tuzandepetl-331 in the town of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, Veracruz.

Source: https://slaynews.com/news/3-separate-oil-facilities-explode-suddenly-24-hours/