The 50 Major Engineering Failures 1977-2007

A fascinating list of the most significant engineering failures over the last three decades compiled by Muhammed Abduh at the Integrity Engineering Blog.

1. Umm Said Qatar - April 3, 1977 (Weld Failure, Gas Processing Plant, 3 killed, US$ 76,350,000/179,000,000)
2. Abqaiq Saudi Arabia - April 15, 1978 (Corrosion, Gas Processing Plant, US$ 53,700,000/117,000,000)
3. Ekofisk Norway - March 27, 1980 (Weld Failure, Offshore Platform, 123 killed)
4. Edmonton Canada - April 18, 1982 (Fatigue, Petrochemical Plant, US$ 21,000,000/33,000,000)
5. Remeoville Illinois US- July 23, 1984 (Weld Failure, Refinery, 17 killed, US$ 191,000,000/273,000,000)
6. San Juan Ixhuatepec Mexico City Mexico - November 19, 1984 (Pipe Leaking, LPG Terminal, 650 killed 64,000 injured, US$ 19,940,000/29,000,000)
7. Las Piedras Venezuela- December 13, 1984 (Hydrogen Embrittlement, Refinery, US$ 62,076,000/89,000,000)
8. Norco Louisiana- US May 5, 1988 (Erosion-Corrosion, Refinery, 4 killed, 20 injured, 4500 evacuated US$ 254,700,000/336,000,000)
9. Piper Alpha North Sea UK - July 8, 1988 (Gas Leaking, Offshore Platform, 167 killed, US$965,000,000/1,270,000,000)
10. Antwerp Belgium - March 7, 1989 (Fatigue/Weld Failure, Petrochemical Plant, US$ 77,000,000/99,000,000)
11. Richmond California US - April 10, 1989 (Weld Failure, Refinery, 8 injured,US$87,170,000/112,000,000)
12. Baton Rauge Louisiana US - December 24, 1989 (Brittle Fracture, Refinery,US$ 68,900,000/89,000,000)
13. Coatzacoalcos Mexico - March 11, 1991 (Pipe Leaking, Petrochemical Plant,US$ 91,300,000/112,000,000)
14. Dhaka Bangladesh - June 20, 1991 (Weld Failure, Petrochemical Plant, US$ 71,000,000)
15. North Rhine Germany - December 10, 1991(Erosion-Corrosion, Refinery, US$ 50,500,000/62,000,000)
16. Guadalajara Mexico - April 22, 1992 (Corrosion, Fuel Pipeline, 206 killed, 500 injured, 15,000 evacuated, US$ 300,000,000)
17. Westlake Louisiana US - July 28, 1992 (Weld Failure/Corrosion, Petrochemical Plant, US$ 25,000,000/30,000,000)
18. Wilmington California US - October 8, 1992 (Erosion-Corrosion, Refinery, US$ 73,300,000/96,000,000)
19. Sodegaura Japan- October 16, 1992 (Fatigue, Refinery, 10 killed, 7 injured, US$ 160,500,000/196,000,000)
20. La Mede, France November 9, 1992 (Pipe Leaking, Refinery, US$ 260,000,000/318,000,000)
21. Baton Rouge Louisiana US - August 2, 1993 (Creep, Refinery Plant, USD 65,200,000/78,000,000)
22. Simpsonville Sacramento US- June 6, 1996 (Pitting Corrosion, Fuel Pipeline, USD 27,000,000/33,000,000)
23. Rio Piedras San Juan Puerto Rico - November 21, 1996 (Wrong Material in HCA, Gas Distribution Pipeline, 33 killed, 69 injured, USD 5,000,000)
24. Martinez California US - January 27, 1997 (Creep, Refinery, USD 80,000,000/82,000,000)
25. Yokkaichi Mie Japan - May 2, 1997 (Erosion-Corrosion, Petrochemical Plant)
26. Visakhapatnam India - September 14, 1997 (Pipe Leaking, Refinery,50 killed, 27 injured, 100 evacuated, USD 64,000,000)
27. St Helena California US - December 2, 1997( Corrosion-Pitting, Fuel Pipeline, USD 14,000,000/17,000,000)
28. Bintulu Serawak Malaysia -December 25, 1997 (Gas Processing Plant, High Temperature Failure, 12 injured, USD 275,000,000/294,000,000)
29. Longford Victoria Australia -September 25, 1998 (Brittle Fracture, Gas Processing Plant, 2 killed, 8 injured, USD 160,000,000/171,000,000)
30. Berre l’Etang France - October 6, 1998 (Corrosion, Refinery,USD 22,000,000/23,000,000)
31. Idjerhe Niger Delta Nigeria - October 17, 1998 (Pipe Leaking,Fuel Pipeline,100 killed)
32. Knoxville Tennesse US - February 9, 1999 (Brittle Fracture, 15 evacuated, USD 8,100,000)
33. Martinez Caifornia US - February 23, 1999 (Corrosion, 4 killed, 1 injured)
34. Winchester Kentucky US - January 27, 2000 (Crude Oil Pipeline, Fatigue, USD 7,100,000)
35. Hunt Texas US- March 3, 2000 (Corrosion, Fuel Pipeline, USD 40,000,000)
36. Prince Georges US - April 7, 2000 (Pipe Leaking, Fuel Pipeline, USD 50,000,000/ 57,000,000)
37. Mina Al-Ahmadi Kuwait - June 25, 2000 (Erosion-Corrosion, Refinery, 5 killed, 50 injured, USD412,000,000/ 433,000,000)
38. Carlsbad New Mexico US - August 19, 2000 (Corrosion-Pitting, Gas Pipeline, 12 killed, USD 100,000,000)
39. Roncador Brazil - March 15, 2001 (Tank Leaking, Offshore Platform, 2 killed, 8 missed, USD 515,000,000)
40. Carson City California US - April 23, 2001 (Pipe Leaking, Refinery, USD 120,000,000/124,000,000)
41. Rawdhatain Kuwait - January 31, 2002 (Pipe Leaking, Refinery, 4 killed,18 injured, USD 200,000,000)
42. Brookdale Manitoba Canada- April 14, 2002 (Stress Corrosion Cracking, Natural Gas Pipeline, USD 13,000,000)
43. Moomba Australia - January 1, 2004 (Liquid Metal Embrittlement, Gas Processing Plant, USD 5,000,000)
44. Skikda Algeria - January 19, 2004 (Liquid Metal Embrittlement, LNG Plant, 27 killed 72 injured, USD 30,000,000)
45. Humber Estuary Killingholme UK - April 16, 2001 (Erosion Corrosion, Refinery, USD 82,400,000)
46. Ghislenghien Belgium- July 30, 2004 (Pipe Leaking, Natural Gas Pipeline, 24 killed, 120 injured)
47. Mihama Japan August 9, 2004 (Erosion-Corrosion, Power Plant, 6 killed, 5 injured)
48. Texas City Texas US - March 23, 2005 (High Temperature Hydrogen Attack, Refinery, 15 killed, 170 injured, USD 30,000,000)
49. Sidoarjo East Java Indonesia- November 22, 2006 (Pipe Leaking, Natural Gas Pipeline,11 killed)
50. Free Town Sierra Leone - December 21, 2007 (Pipe Leaking, Natural Gas Pipeline, 17 killed)

Links to Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

11 May 2008 | Construction, Construction Defect, Experts, General | Comments

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