An operator at a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) processing facility heard a loud noise coming from an area of the plant during start-up, following significant maintenance works. The operator identified that high pressure, flammable natural gas was being released to the atmosphere from a localized point beneath the insulation of process equipment.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) responded to the incident. No evacuation of personnel was required, although local traffic on adjacent roads was redirected as a precautionary measure.
Once the incident was contained, the area was secured and closely inspected for damage. The cause of the incident was identified as the sudden failure of a newly installed gasket within a bolted flange joint assembly. It is estimated that around 20,000 m3 of gas was released to the atmosphere during the incident. There were no injuries or damage to the plant.