A Sunoco (www.sunocoinc.com) oil refinery located on the Delaware River along the Delaware/Pennsylvania border suffered an explosion last night that sent flames shooting into the air, according to a report by the Associated Press (www.ap.com). The Philadelphia Inquirer (www.philly.com) reports that the blast occurred in a production area that makes ethylene, a common organic chemical produced from butane and often used to make other chemicals such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene glycol, otherwise known as antifreeze.
The AP reports that a company official said the fire had been contained after the explosion, which rattled nearby homes. No injuries were reported and no evacuations were ordered from the area
An EPA report says the frontage of the refinery extends approximately 4,800 feet along the northern banks of the Delaware River. The facility is bordered by industrial land use and commercial and residential properties.
For the full AP report on this story, click here.
For the full Philadelphia Inquirer report on this story, click here.
