"Popcorn Polymer" Blockage Causes Explosion

An explosion and fire occurred at the TPC Group chemical plant in Port Neches, TX, on November 27, 2019.

The initial explosion happened just before 1 a.m. The blast was felt up to 30 miles away.

A series of explosions destroyed part of the TPC facility, damaged nearby homes and businesses, and prompted a mandatory evacuation of residents living within four miles of the plant.

The sequence of events that led to the explosion began when 60,000 gallons of liquid vapor, mostly highly flammable butadiene, escaped from a processing tower.

This event caused $450 million in on-site property damage and $153 million in off-site property damage to nearby homes and businesses. 

The Chemical Safety Board put out a safety video on the explosion, which includes 4 key safety issues.