Investigators have ruled out foul play in connection with a powerful blast that rocked a Valero Energy Corporation refinery in Port Arthur, Texas on Monday evening, according to Jefferson County Sheriff’s officials.
Chief Deputy Donta Miller confirmed Tuesday that authorities are not treating the incident as a criminal investigation. “No, we’re not investigating it as that,” Miller stated.
The blast originated in a diesel hydrotreater unit and was so intense that residents reported feeling it from as far as 11 miles away, according to sources with knowledge of the facility’s operations.
Company officials immediately implemented emergency protocols, shutting down the entire refinery to prevent hydrogen or hydrocarbon materials from feeding the resulting fire. These hydrotreater units utilize hydrogen gas to strip sulfur from fuel components, meeting federal environmental standards.
Valero reported Tuesday that the incident resulted in no casualties and that all workers at the facility have been accounted for.
The Port Arthur refinery sits approximately 86 miles east of Houston.
