Report
Subject: Venting problems thought to be involved in two recent storage tank explosions Date of Email report: Sat 31/01/2009 Report Detail: Fault device likely culprit in Plumpang depot explosion Preliminary results from the investigation into Sunday's Pertamina fuel depot blaze showed the fire was caused by a faulty tank safety valve, a National Police spokesperson said Tuesday. "Fire was caused by pressure build-up inside the tank that could not be alleviated by the tank's safety valve," Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said, as reported by tempointeraktif.com. "This is confirmed because no evidence of explosives have been found in tank 24 nor in the area surrounding the tank," Nataprawira said. The investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team consisting of the National Police forensic lab, Pertamina, and the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BPH-Migas). Previously, Pertamina corporate secretary Toharso had explained each tank had three safety mechanisms: a sprinkler, an external liquid fire extinguisher and a chemical fire extinguisher. "There is also a release valve on top of the tank which functions as a decompressor to reduce pressure within the tank whenever fuel is entering or leaving," he said. Nataprawira added, however, the discovery of a body -- first reported to likely be a security guard -- near the tank could well change preliminary conclusions of the investigation, especially since a mobile phone unit was also discovered nearby. "That evidence could well be cause for further investigation," he said.(amr) Separately; The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigating an explosion at the Silver Eagle Refinery, Utah, has identified the "integrity of the tank seal" as one of the key issues, noting that the tank had atmospheric vents on its exterior roof.
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