Explosion, fire at Lone Star NGL: Update

: LPG
20/07/30

Updates with comment from company in second paragraph

An explosion and fire erupted late today at Lone Star NGL's fractionation and storage facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

A contractor at the site struck an underground pipeline, causing an explosion at approximately 5:45pm ET, Energy Transfer said in an email. Lone Star is a subsidiary of Energy Transfer. There were no injuries or evacuations, and the area is secure, the company said.

Mont Belvieu is the site of the largest natural gas liquids (NGL) storage complex in the country, with pipelines connecting to export docks and wellheads around the US. Lone Star's site includes NGL fractionators and more than 50mn bl of salt dome storage capacity.

Both the Mont Belvieu fire department and Energy Transfer's own fire team are on site fighting the "large but contained" blaze at the West Winfree Street site.

As of 7:27pm ET, the fire was still burning but "diminished," Mont Belvieu communications director Brian Ligon said.

By Marialuisa Rincon

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