CSB Investigating PEMEX Deer Park Leak

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has initiated an investigation into the fatal hydrogen sulfide release at the PEMEX refinery in Deer Park, Texas. The tragic incident, which occurred on Thursday, October 10, 2024, resulted in the deaths of two contract workers and left more than 35 others injured.

The release also prompted a shelter-in-place order for residents in Pasadena and Deer Park, and a section of Texas State Highway 225 was temporarily closed.

Criticism Over Communication Failures

Local officials have criticized PEMEX for what they describe as significant communication failures during the emergency.

Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia expressed frustration over the company's lack of timely and accurate information, stating that it led to confusion and concern among residents. He added that the company failed to utilize the Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) system effectively and did not provide adequate information about air quality monitoring.

“Last night, we struggled to get timely information from PEMEX about air monitoring that was happening at their fence line,” Garcia said in a news conference. “This hampered the ability of our first responders to dispatch, and it required that we dispatch our own pollution control mobile monitoring team, which is tasked with providing real-time data to residents about air quality in their neighborhoods.”

Residents reported that the shelter-in-place order was issued nearly two hours after the incident occurred, leaving many unaware of the potential danger.

Meanwhile, the only message posted by the PEMEX facility around the time of the incident discussed “routine flaring.”

About the PEMEX Deer Park Chemical Release

The PEMEX Deer Park chemical release began around 4:40 p.m. when contractors at the refinery were reportedly performing maintenance on a sulfur recovery unit, which processes hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez indicated that a flange may have failed, leading to the gas release. Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic and flammable gas that can be lethal if inhaled in high concentrations.

PEMEX stated that they shut down the 92,000-barrel-per-day coker unit and a hydrotreater as part of their response to the incident.

Ongoing Investigation & Community Impact

The CSB's investigation will focus on determining the root causes of the incident and making safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences. The Board does not issue fines or citations but works to improve industrial safety standards by advising companies, regulatory agencies, and industry organizations.

While the immediate threat to the surrounding community has been contained, the incident has raised concerns about emergency preparedness and communication protocols at the facility.

The deadly leak at PEMEX Deer Park is also a reminder of the tragic consequences of safety lapses and what happens when companies fail to put the well-being of their workers first.