Posted on 08/14/2005 10:06:20 AM PDT by BellStar
You don’t have to be a conspiracy buff to think the recent spate of incidents at BP facilities was maybe a little much to comfortably call coincidence.
The FBI’s not going near that, but did confirm it was conducting what it called routine investigations of the incidents.
Bureau officials said there was no evidence or indication that any of the incidents might involve deliberate acts, and that such probes had become routine since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
BP’s Texas City oil refinery and a subsidiary’s chemical plant at Chocolate Bayou have been at the center of six large incidents in the past 15 months.
Those include explosions in three separate cases, one of which had mass casualties. They also include a pipe rupture that killed two workers and severely injured a third, a late night leak of Gasoil that put a city under a shelter-in-place order and a large explosion and fire at the Innovene Chemical plant.
Special Agent Al Tribble said the bureau was looking into the incidents to see if there is a connection. He said the agency was involved not so much because there appears to be a link or evidence of wrongdoing, but because of the climate that has existed since the terror attacks of 9/11.
“This is routine — part of the process now,” said Tribble. “We are typically contacted after such events as a matter of the course of doing business since 9/11.”
He stressed that there is no evidence to indicate the timing of any of the recent incidents was anything other than coincidence.
In the hours after the March 23 blasts, it was the FBI and the region’s Joint Terrorism Task force that ruled terrorism was not a likely cause. The explosions killed 15 people and injured more than 170 at BP’s Texas City oil refinery.
BP, as is routine for petrochemical companies, would not discuss the investigation. Spokesmen cited a policy of not discussing security matters.
Tribble said such investigations involve the FBI as well as members of the region’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
The investigation will include information gathered from other agencies, such as the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“All is a component (of the investigation),” said Tribble. “All respond to these sort of things.”
I didn't know this. The media is too busy focusing on fluff pieces, imo.
There are refinery fires and explosions every year. Why should this be any different.
Exactly - not a year goes by in Houston that there aren't at least one or two major refinery fires or other incidents. BP seems to be having a few more than normal, but not an alarmingly large number.
And they *are* making the news, at least here in North Texas.
They are all form over substance right down to printing safety logo posters rather than actually being concerned over same.
Plus, having only hired a$$ki$$in'college simpletons over hands on multi-generation oil workers, well, you see the results, B O O M !
Now I feel so much better. NOT!
I workd at that refinery many years ago. I know people who are still there. It surprises us that this place does notblow up more often. Safety is a joke there.
Desk jockeys in other refinery offices who never dirty their pretty little feet actually walking around to see how safe we are just assume we are similar to these simians and shower us with memos and protocols not pertinent to our operation.
Amaco! Now owned by the big BP!
I thought it was standard for the FBI to investigate any explosion that kills 15 people at a refinery.
Six large incidents in 15 months is one large incident every 90 days. That seems a bit much for me. If the plant was run as bad as some are saying I'd have to think there'd be investigations of that too. Hell, employees would be feeding the info to the media.
The Trouble With Tribbles...
The employees are afraid of losing their jobs. They're downsizing in refineries too now.
These kinds of incidents are going to be happening a lot more frequently now. We live close to a refinery (my husband was a 25 year plant operator there - they fired him over nothing that had to do with his job) - they are getting rid of experienced operators left & right over the least little thing. Company people are supervising now what used to be done by guys with experience. Company morale sucks now & I'm surprised the place hasn't blown up yet. There are also a string of chemical plants all the way down the river as well - and an airport right across the river. We've always said it would be a great place for terrorists to hit.
Things are going to get a lot worse.
Do you have any ideas on the origin of this stupidity policy?
"'Spate of incidents that stay out of the news some how!""
if you follow oil trading, these storries have been in the news....I doubt this is terrorism, mostly likely stress on the refining industry do to lack of spare capacity, but it is good for the FBI to investigate..
also keep in mind if it was reveled to be terrorism, oil futures would skyrocket, even if the disruption was minor
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