Ep 2. Oil Fire in Texas

On the season 4 episode 2 of "Seconds From Disaster," viewers are taken to Texas in the United States for a tragic and deadly incident involving oil. The episode is appropriately titled "Oil Fire in Texas."

The episode delves into the events leading up to the disaster, which occurred on October 2, 2007, at the Valero McKee Refinery located in Sunray, Texas. The refinery was one of the largest and most complex of its kind in the country at the time, producing gasoline, diesel fuel, and other commodities. The refinery covered over 2,000 acres of land and employed over 500 people.

The story begins with a leak in one of the refinery's condensate pipes, which was missed by maintenance workers during routine inspections. The condensate, which is a flammable liquid used to help refine crude oil, began to pool on the ground and eventually found its way into a nearby storm drain.

Later that day, a welder working on a nearby pipeline smoked a cigarette and accidentally threw a lit butt onto the ground, igniting the condensate in the storm drain. The resulting explosion and fireball was enormous, destroying nearby buildings and injuring several workers.

The episode expertly explains the science behind why the disaster was so catastrophic and how the fire quickly spread, overwhelming firefighters and refinery workers. The refinery's safety systems were quickly overwhelmed, and the fire raged for several days, burning millions of gallons of oil and causing extensive damage to the facility.

In addition to the technical aspects of the disaster, the episode also highlights the human cost of the tragedy. Dozens of workers were injured in the explosion and fire, and two workers lost their lives. The episode tells their stories and shows how their families and loved ones were affected by the disaster.

Overall, "Oil Fire in Texas" is a gripping and informative episode of "Seconds From Disaster." Through expert analysis and compelling storytelling, viewers gain a deep understanding of the events leading up to the incident and the devastating aftermath. The episode serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in industrial settings and the need for constant vigilance to prevent such disasters from occurring again in the future.