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eNatech - Natural-Hazard Triggered Technological Accidents Database
Natech Accident
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Natech Accident
2003/12/26
05:26
Bam Earthquake, Iran, Islamic Republic of, 2003
Roghan-e-Jonoub chemical plant, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Published

Units Involved

  1. Unanchored on-grade storage tanks
    Storage: Atmospheric storage tank
    Three broad unanchored tanks containing oil (H/D>0.7)
  2. Elevated storage tanks
    Storage: Atmospheric storage tank
    Three elevated lubricant oil tanks
  3. Unanchored oil barrels
    Storage: Other

Event Sequences

  1. Leakage of liquid from roof-to-wall junctions
    1. Unanchored on-grade storage tanks
    Three out of six on-grade steel oil tanks suffered leakage from roof-to-wall junctions due to liquid sloshing.
    1. Oil
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Natural Hazard: Liquid sloshing
    Liquid sloshing was initiated by the earthquake motion. No other damage mode (elephant foot buckling, rupture of rigid piping, etc.) was observed for these tanks.
    Release: Liquid release to ground
    		-
  2. Leakage of liquid from elevated storage tanks
    2. Elevated storage tanks
    Elevated tanks containing lubricant oil suffered leakage due to the failure of pie connections.
    1. Oil
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Component (Non-structural): Damage to couplings between tanks and pipeline
    Component (Structural): Damage to support columns
    The supporting frames suffered structural damage, but did not collapse.
    Component (Structural): Damage / deformation of tie-bars
    Many braces buckled and some connections were ruptured.
    Component (Non-structural): Puncture
    A tank shell was punctured by a tank tower column due to poor detailing of the connection of the tank to the pier.
    Release: Liquid release to ground
    The breaking of pipe-tank connections was the main reason for the oil spill.
    		-
  3. Leakage of liquid from unanchored barrels
    3. Unanchored oil barrels
    1. Oil
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Component (Structural): Overturning / toppling
    Barrels fell down due to the earthquake.
    Release: Liquid release to ground
    Leakage of liquid from some barrels that fell down.
    		-

Consequences

No immediate risk for human health was reported.
Inland (e.g. grassland, cropland, forest)
The oil spills posed a noticeable enviromental pollution threat to the affected site.
The company suffered extensive damage due to the earthquake. Production had to be stopped due to the unavailability of several units.
Industrial areas (e.g. factories)

Lessons Learned

Rigid tank-pipe connections broke, highlighting the importance of using flexible connections in earthquake-prone areas.

Better detailing of the connection of the tank to the pier could have avoided vessel puncturing when the support columns buckled.
ID: 49, Created: Vincenzo ARCIDIACONO, 2014-09-04 17:08:08 – Last Updated: Elisabeth KRAUSMANN, 2017-07-14 16:47:10

Attachments

NoDescriptionFile Size
1.ESHGI - Performance of industrial facilities in the 2003 Bam, Iran, earthquake 1.87MB
2.ESHGI - The Behavior of Special Structures During the Bam Earthquake of 26 December 2003 3.10MB