Methyl Acrylate Tank; Houston, TX

Houston, TX | 1998-Jun-13

Initial Notification: At a facility just off the Houston Ship Channel - Houston, Texas, a tank containing as much as 57,000 gallons of Methyl Acrylate was undergoing an uncontrolled polymerization reaction. A problem had developed with the tanks inhibitor pump triggering an exothermic reaction. The tank was being kept cool by dousing it with water in an attempt to prevent an over pressurization explosion. The tank measured 32' high by 42' in diameter and there were reports of the product being at the 5.5' level within the tank, but the exact nature and state of the product was not known. Tank temperatures were reported to be in the 180? F - 220? F range. USCG district 8.