PSBR 6 – Avoid Liquid

Release Relief To
Atmosphere
Buncefield
explosion
 Buncefield
explosion
• At around 06:00 on Sunday 11 December 2005, a
number of explosions occurred at Buncefield Oil
Storage Depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
At least one of the initial explosions was of massive
proportions and there was a large fire, which
engulfed over 20 large fuel storage tanks over a
high proportion of the site.2 There were 43 people
injured in the incident, none seriously. There were
no fatalities. Significant damage occurred to both
commercial and residential properties in the
vicinity and a large area around the site was
evacuated on About 2000 people were evacuated.
• The Buncefield oil storage and transfer
depot is a tank farm in Hemel
Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England,
• The fire burned for several days, destroying
most of the site and emitting large clouds of
black smoke into the atmosphere, dispersing
over southern England and beyond. Large
quantities of foam and water were used to
control the fire, with risks of contaminating
water courses and ground water
Aerial view of the Buncefield depot before the Buncefield after the incident:
incident

Tank 912
Buncefield damage to
buildings
Several explosion damages
How much damage it was?
• Large fire on over 20 tanks for 5 days
• 750m3 of firefighting foam
• 40 people injured , no facilities
• secondary and tertiary containment systems failed
• Direct costs about 1 billion