Exxon Montana

ExxonMobil's Montana refinery is located in Billings and is one of two refineries in that city (the other one is owned and operated by ConocoPhillips). Most of the oil processed here is from the tar sands situated under the prairie regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Fire Danger

In October 2007, a major fire broke out at the refinery; amazingly, there were no deaths or injuries. According to a company spokesperson, the fire was the result of a processing unit "malfunction."

Fire is a constant hazard at oil refineries; even in crude form, petroleum is highly volatile. Many of the chemicals that are byproducts of the refining process are highly toxic as well as corrosive and/or caustic. For this reason, all three varieties of asbestos (serpentine, crocidolite and amosite) were extensively used throughout the construction of these facilities.

Oil Refineries and Asbestos

For almost all of the 20th century, whenever extreme temperature or combustion was a concern, asbestos was used as a building material. Therefore, it was quite common for oil refineries such as ExxonMobil's Montana refinery to be constructed with materials that contained asbestos. Along with being temperature-resistant and non-flammable, various types of amphibole asbestos are also particularly impervious to chemical reactions. Floor tiles, insulation, work surfaces, even protective uniforms, therefore, often contained the fibrous mineral. Asbestos, however, carried a significant downside that was either not known or at times deliberately ignored: serious and often lethal medical conditions were found to be the result of asbestos exposure.

Amosite was almost always one of the types of asbestos utilized in such facilities. When mixed with chrysotile, which is resistant to heat and bases but not as resistant to acidic compounds, amosite creates products that are particularly good at preventing damage from corrosive substances. Used for decades in the form of asbestos-containing transite in chemical plants, laboratories and oil refineries throughout the United States, amosite was eventually banned in building materials in the 1970s.

Asbestos transite displayed properties similar to cement; it could be laminated, sprayed onto ductwork and pipes and molded into working surfaces. Generally, new items built with transite were considered innocuous because the asbestos particles were encapsulated in the transite. However, as asbestos-containing transite aged, it was prone to becoming powdery, which caused the lethal, microscopic fibers to flake off into the air. In this state, it is said to be friable, a term that is used for materials that are easily pulverized. In addition, industrial kilns often were constructed with friable asbestos as part of their insulation linings.

Why Is Friable Asbestos Dangerous?

Friable asbestos is a problem since in this state the fibers are readily released into the atmosphere. Breathing asbestos fibers can lead to conditions like cancer or asbestosis. Another uncommon, but generally deadly, disease caused by asbestos is mesothelioma. The pleural variety of the illness, which affects the lining between the lungs and the pleural cavity, is the most common. Peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma are caused by the ingestion of fibers of asbestos, which happens when microscopic particles become airborne and land on food or in beverages.

Mounting pressure from activist groups, medical scientists and the press forced the creation of laws regulating how to use asbestos. The use of asbestos was more prevalent, however, when oil refineries were constructed. Any asbestos remaining from that period can yet pose danger if special care is not taken during demolition and remodeling projects.

The Time Bomb

One of the insidious aspects of asbestos exposure is the associated diseases may take many, many years to appear - frequently decades after the worker has left the employer. It can also be hard to identify asbestos-related illnesses because their symptoms are similar to the symptoms of other conditions. Accordingly, it is extremely important for folks who were employed by or resided around facilities such as ExxonMobil's Montana refinery to ask their doctors for a mesothelioma treatment guide. Moreover, spouses of these people are also in danger, as unless effective decontamination policies, including using on-site showers, were enforced, it was quite possible for employees to bring home asbestos fibers on their persons or their clothing. Early diagnosis is key as there is no mesothelioma cure.

Sources

Halstead-Archaya, Linda - Tank Farm (Billings Gazette, 29 January 2006)

Manta - Exxon Mobil Corporation
http://www.manta.com/c/mmfnzbq/exxon-mobil-corporation

McGurty, Janet - Exxon Mobil says Billings Refinery Fire Under Control
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1729690220071017

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) - Laboratories and Shops
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/ASB/acmimages3.html

University of Wisconsin - Asbestos Disposal
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/HAZEXCEPTIONS/a.html