REGINA – Investigators have determined that a ruptured bypass pipe is to blame for a powerful explosion that rocked the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) in northeast Regina last Christmas Eve.
A report issued by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan on Wednesday revealed that a bypass line (part of Polymerization Unit 27) that had recently been serviced froze, and that the freezing process caused a rupture in a piece of pipe.
Once temperatures increased, petroleum product was released through the pipe, causing an explosion and fire.
Though accidental, the reports suggests the incident was preventable, and that a similar rupture caused by freezing occurred in December 2008.
The report suggests that CRC staff review procedures for cold weather shutdown and for incident investigation.
No one was injured as a result of the blast, which caused an estimated $77 million in damage to buildings and equipment.
Full report by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan
Christmas Eve refinery explosion cause by frozen, ruptured pipe
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