Update on BP Tank Farm Leak
BP is fully in action to clean up a recent leak from a storage tank at Whiting Refinery’s tank farm and mitigate any associated odors, according to the latest update Friday morning.
The leak remained within the containment area designed to safely capture material from the tanks in the event of a release. That area has been covered with plastic sheeting, which has helped to significantly reduce odors, and response teams are preparing to remove and safely dispose of contaminated material, BP stated.
Air monitoring equipment was immediately deployed following the leak at multiple locations at the site and in the community. That monitoring has so far shown no elevated readings. Contrary to news reports, there has been no data to indicate benzene or hydrogen sulfide vapors are coming from the cleanup site.
Air monitoring will continue until the response is completed, and BP will remain in close contact with state and local officials about the data, as they have throughout the response.
Separately, BP notified IDEM on Tuesday of a temporary release of liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, from an operating unit at the Whiting Refinery. The release, which was quickly isolated and stopped, did not trigger the threshold for notification to IDEM regarding the release of certain substances, and the refinery continues to operate normally. However, BP made the notification out of an abundance of caution.
“BP remains committed to safe, compliant and reliable operations and to the safety of our people and of the surrounding community.”
