Society

Improper desulfurizer injection causes Dalian oil blasts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-23 19:28

BEIJING - Improper desulfurizer injections into the oil pipeline that exploded in the northeast China port city of Dalian on July 16 caused its explosion, results of a State Administration of Work Safety and Ministry of Public Security investigation showed Friday.

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The 0.9-meter-diameter oil pipeline exploded at 6 pm, triggering a smaller adjacent pipeline to also explode.

The explosion happened as workers from Shanghai-based Q.PRO Inspection and Technical Service Co. continued to inject desulfurizer into the pipeline after the 300,000-tonne tanker had finished unloading its oil at 1:00 pm.

Produced by Tianjin-based Huishengda Petroleum Technology Co., the desulfurizer was strongly oxidizing, the investigation said.

A subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation had authorized the two companies to conduct the operation.

The accident is still under investigation.