Event
- Event ID
- 819
- Quality
- Description
- In an ammonia production unit, a 350-bar leakage of synthesis gas (ammonia + hydrogen)
occurred in the compressor room. The leak was the result of the failure of a weld on a line (2") at the outlet of the compressor.
A flammable cloud formed in the room (15 m x 105 m), 30 to 45 seconds later.
One of the electric motors of the four compressors present was probably at the origin of the ignition, which brought first to an explosion followed by a fire which lasted about ten minutes.
8 people injured, the surrounding buildings were damaged in various ways, as well as the cooling tower and the plant's acid production unit. - Event Initiating system
- Classification of the physical effects
- Hydrogen Release and Ignition
- Nature of the consequences
- Macro-region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Date
- Main component involved?
- Compressor / Booster / Pump (Weld)
- How was it involved?
- Rupture & Formation Of A Flammable H2-Hc-Air Mixture
- Initiating cause
- Unknown
- Root causes
- Root CAUSE analysis
- the INITIATING cause was the failure of a weld on a line (2 ") at the outlet of a compressor.
The root cause is unknown
Facility
- Application
- Chemical Industry
- Sub-application
- Ammonia production
- Hydrogen supply chain stage
- All components affected
- ammonia reactor, syngas compressor
- Location type
- Confined
- Location description
- Industrial Area
- Operational condition
Emergency & Consequences
- Number of injured persons
- 8
- Number of fatalities
- 0
- Environmental damage
- 0
- Property loss (onsite)
- Y
- Property loss (offsite)
- N
- Post-event summary
- 8 people injured, the surrounding buildings are damaged in various ways, as is the cooling tower and the plant's acid production unit; property damage was estimated at $ 13.4 million.
Event Nature
- Release type
- gas mixture
- Involved substances (% vol)
- H2,
NH3 - Actual pressure (MPa)
- 35
- Design pressure (MPa)
- 35
- Presumed ignition source
- Electricity
- Ignition delay
- 45 s
References
- Reference & weblink
ARIA data base <br />
https://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/accident/5427/<br />
(accessed December 2025)
JRC assessment
- Sources categories
- ARIA