Accident Lesson Card · Real investigation (tap external link for official report)
← Back to KB navigation
CSB Investigation Report No. 2013-02-I-LA 2013 Safety Safety
Williams Geismar Olefins Plant Reboiler Explosion
Williams Geismar Olefins Plant, Louisiana
Related equipment → Shell-and-tube heat exchanger (shell_tube_heat_exchanger)
2Fatalities
167Injuries
Overpressure ruptureMechanism code STD
⌗Failure Mode · ISO 14224 Mapping
Damage mechanism (recorded in KB)
Overpressure ruptureSTD
ISO functional code (as recorded)
ISO 14224:2016 functional failure code
STD · Structural failure
ISO STD — Structural failure.
1What Happened

Propylene fractionator reboiler overpressure rupture -> leak and fire

2Root Cause

Loss of reboiler level control + inadequate overpressure protection + hot-vapor bypass valve misopened

3Reliability Lessons (from investigation root cause)
  • Loss of reboiler level control
  • inadequate overpressure protection
  • hot-vapor bypass valve misopened
4Associated Failure Mechanisms (Keywords)
reboiler overpressure rupture leak thermal fatigue shell crack
About the Failure-Mode Code (click to expand)

The recorded code STD is an ISO 14224:2016 functional failure code (describes what the equipment failed to do). The damage mechanism (how it failed) is shown in the Mapping block above. The two are distinct dimensions in ISO 14224.

5Evidence Source (transparent)
Authority：U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)
Official Report：www.csb.gov ↗
Data Verification：verified_url_csb_sitemap
↗Related Failure Modes · Traceability
Fouling/Plugging fouling_pluggingCorrosion Thinning corrosion_thinningErosion erosionStress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) sccFlow-induced Vibration Fatigue (Tube) flow_induced_vibration_fatigueExpanded Joint Leak expanded_joint_leakTube Sheet Corrosion tube_sheet_corrosionTube Hole Enlargement tube_hole_enlargementCladding Disbonding cladding_disbondingPartition Leak partition_leakChannel Flange Leak channel_flange_leakShell Internal Corrosion / Erosion fmShell Crack fm_2Baffle Corrosion / Wear -> Loss of Tube Support fm_3Baffle Vibration Fatigue fm_4Fatigue Cracking fatigue_crackingCorrosion Thinning fm_5Gasket Aging / Creep -> Leak fm_6Improper Gasket Installation fm_7Bolt Relaxation bolt_relaxationBolt Corrosion fm_8Valve Internal Leak fm_9Blockage fm_10Relief Valve Set-pressure Drift fm_11Valve Seat Leak fm_12Inlet Line Blockage fm_13Sensor Drift fm_14Loose Wiring / Terminals fm_15Fouling/Plugging fouling_pluggingCorrosion Thinning corrosion_thinningErosion erosionStress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) sccFlow-induced Vibration Fatigue (Tube) flow_induced_vibration_fatigueExpanded Joint Leak expanded_joint_leakTube Sheet Corrosion tube_sheet_corrosionTube Hole Enlargement tube_hole_enlargementCladding Disbonding cladding_disbondingPartition Leak partition_leakChannel Flange Leak channel_flange_leakShell Internal Corrosion / Erosion fmShell Crack fm_2Baffle Corrosion / Wear -> Loss of Tube Support fm_3Baffle Vibration Fatigue fm_4Fatigue Cracking fatigue_crackingCorrosion Thinning fm_5Gasket Aging / Creep -> Leak fm_6Improper Gasket Installation fm_7Bolt Relaxation bolt_relaxationBolt Corrosion fm_8Valve Internal Leak fm_9Blockage fm_10Relief Valve Set-pressure Drift fm_11Valve Seat Leak fm_12Inlet Line Blockage fm_13Sensor Drift fm_14Loose Wiring / Terminals fm_15隔膜破裂(隔膜泵) diaphragm_rupture结垢/堵塞 MECH-FOULING均匀/局部减薄（通用减薄） MECH-THINNING振动诱发疲劳 MECH-VIB-FATIGUE选择性脱合金 MECH-DEALLOY机械疲劳 MECH-MECH-FATIGUE脆性断裂 MECH-BRITTLE-FRACTURE结垢/堵塞 MECH-FOULING密封失效 MECH-SEAL-FAILURE均匀/局部减薄（通用减薄） MECH-THINNING选择性脱合金 MECH-DEALLOY机械疲劳 MECH-MECH-FATIGUE脆性断裂 MECH-BRITTLE-FRACTURE
Report No. 2013-02-I-LA · Data from CSB public investigation conclusions, compiled by Reliability AI, for reliability demonstration purposes only. This case is derived from public incident investigation reports for learning purposes only. AIM does not endorse or guarantee its accuracy.