El Segundo, California — Investigators are now focusing on a jet fuel processing unit at Chevron’s refinery in El Segundo after a significant explosion and fire incident that occurred last week. While the company has provided scant details regarding the cause of the explosion, it confirmed that the Isomax unit, responsible for converting crude oil into jet fuel and other high-value products, remains offline as authorities continue their inquiries.
Chevron spokesperson Ross Allen stated that the company will not restart the Isomax unit until a comprehensive understanding of the incident is established and measures are put in place to prevent a recurrence. Despite the shutdown of this unit, operations around the refinery remain active, with jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel being produced from other sections of the facility.
The explosion, which colored the night sky orange and produced a sound that resonated for miles, has raised concerns within the industry. Although no fatalities were reported and only a handful of workers sustained minor injuries, experts emphasize that the scale of the fire necessitates a thorough investigation to understand its origins. Najmedin Meshkati, a professor of engineering at the University of Southern California and a former expert for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, noted that the incident could have resulted in far more severe consequences.
Determining the cause of the fire remains challenging, as both local authorities and Chevron have yet to disclose much information. Industry specialists believe that equipment failures, particularly those linked to oil sensors, might be responsible for the ignition. Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, highlighted that such failures can lead to dangerous situations where hot oil and gas escape into the air, ultimately resulting in explosions.
Experts warn that reliance on outdated or faulty sensor technology could compound the risk of equipment malfunctions. Faisal Khan, director of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, indicated that without adequate backup systems and personnel to verify the sensor data, refineries could be left vulnerable to catastrophic failures.
Firefighting equipment is trained to handle such events, but combating a blaze in a refinery can be particularly challenging due to the readily available fuel sources. El Segundo Fire Department division chief Casey Snow explained that tactical isolation and cooling methods are employed to prevent spread. However, details on how widespread this particular fire was have not yet been disclosed.
Despite fire crews’ efforts, significant damage may have occurred, particularly considering the intense heat generated by the explosion. Industry professionals caution that while the fire primarily consumed fuel, the high temperatures could have caused equipment malfunctions and structural issues that are not immediately visible from outside the refinery.
Meshkati stressed the importance of a detailed investigation, stating that understanding various contributing factors—human, organizational, and technological—is essential in identifying the root cause of the incident. He cited past cases, including a major explosion in 2015 at a Torrance refinery, where a combination of operational decisions and equipment failures triggered catastrophic results.
A potential concern is the adequacy of the investigation, as funding and staffing issues currently affect the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s capability to conduct thorough reviews. Previous proposals for budget cuts raise fears about the effectiveness of future investigations.
In addition to the investigations by local and state entities, Chevron is undertaking its probe, which will involve submitting a report to the local air quality management district within 30 days that outlines possible causes and mechanical failures related to the incident.
While local authorities initially reported no injuries in the explosion, four workers have since filed a lawsuit, alleging they suffered orthopedic injuries and anxiety while escaping the flames. This claim adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of safety practices at the El Segundo refinery.
As the investigations unfold, the focus will remain on uncovering the events leading up to the explosion and ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future.
