Amid propane industry terms such as flame impingement and boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion – also known as BLEVE and pronounced as blevy, Dave O’Connell President of Wilson Oil and John Hart, a propane industry consultant, addressed a group of approximately 75 who gather at the Town House restaurant in Media on Monday October 15.
Citing the need to expand the company’s product line in a changing fuel oil industry, Mr O’Connell outlined the company’s plans to install a 30,000 gallon propane tank at the company’s 221 Rogers Lane location. Mr. O’Connell indicated that in response to community opposition the company has altered the plans from an above ground tank to a buried tank, which he indicated would add from 20% to 30% to the cost of the project.
John Hart, a propane consultant working with Wilson, provided many details regarding the numerous safeguards the industry has put in place to prevent accidents involving propane handling and storage. Mr Hart also had a visual demonstration of what happens to a propane tank when it is exposed to flames, via the use of a soda can and propane torch.
Mr Hart was commended on several occasions for his encyclopedic knowledge of propane and the industry, of which he has been involved with since 1973. Stating that 75% of the accidents involving propane center around the point of transfer of the product, many questions were raised as to how often delivery trucks, known as bobtails, and larger 10,000 gallon tankers, used to refill the underground tank, would be active at the facility. Mr Hart also acknowledged that in spite of all the safety measures in place human error is a major cause of accidents in the industry.
The burying of the tank greatly lessens the probability of a catastrophic explosion that has been cited as a concern. Mr. Hart explained that an accident involving an underground tank would be limited to the amount of propane in the piping on the exterior of the tank, and would take the form of a “flashback”. Details involving standard evacuation distances involving a propane accident were discussed as well.
Attendees addressed several issues and concerns regarding the proper notification of local Emergency Response teams and the local fire departments, as well as such issues as full transparency on the behalf of Wilson Oil as regards to the releasing of the Licenses and Inspection application.
The audience was cordial throughout the two hour event, and much information was heard and discussed, but the general opinion was that little of what was heard will dissuade opposition to the project.
Mr. O’Connell concluded, stating that Wilson desires to be a “good neighbor, and good citizen of the community”.
The next round of this bout is scheduled for Monday November 19, 2012 at the Township Building.
Wallingford Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086
