Woods Cross refinery is shutting down

A Woods Cross oil refinery is shutting down voluntarily after federal regulators found problems that may have led to an explosion last week.

On Nov. 4, an explosion at Silver Eagle Refining rocked a nearby neighborhood and damaged at least a dozen homes, making two uninhabitable.

The blast, which was felt from Salt Lake to Roy, occurred after hydrogen and diesel fuel leaked from a pipeline and ignited, setting off the massive explosion.

U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Chairman John Bresland issued a statement Friday saying that "preliminary findings indicate that the explosion occurred when a 10-inch pipe failed catastrophically."

"Although the failure mechanism has yet to be determined, the pipe showed evidence of significant thinning, which had not been detected by the refinery's mechanical-integrity program," Bresland said in the statement. "In my view, the best course of action for the refinery would be to stand down as quickly and safely as possible. The refinery units should remain shut down until the integrity and fitness for service of all the equipment can be documented and verified."

Silver Eagle's management responded positively to the suggestion and agreed to begin an orderly process to "stand down the refinery until these steps are accomplished," according to the statement.

Silver Eagle Refining officials said the use of "certain processing units" already have been suspended and that all processing operations would be temporarily suspended in an "orderly and safe fashion." After any needed repairs have been made and the units have been fully inspected for safety, the units and refining operations will resume, Silver Eagle officials said in a statement Friday.

"We have decided to do this because our top priority is the health and safety of our employees and the community," said Silver Eagle Refining President Dave McSwain. "We believe this is the best decision given the circumstances."

Over the coming weeks, the refinery will review and assess the situation and continue to report to all concerned, McSwain said.

"We are committed to being a responsible business in the community and being a contributor to an important industry sector," he said. "We take our operating responsibility very seriously."

Woods Cross Mayor Kent Parry said city officials were pleased with the refinery's decision to shut down, at least temporarily.