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First alarm set when tank was full
Day 19. Tank alarms at the Buncefield depot were set to start sounding when the maximum safe working fuel level had already been reached, the High Court heard.
The set up meant tanks were already at their capacity when staff were alerted that incoming fuel had to be diverted.
The trial was told that there were three levels of alarms – the 'high' alarm, which sounded first, the 'high high' alarm and the final automatic cut-out switch.
Jonathan Sumption QC, acting for Chevron, told the court: "At Buncefield the high level alarm was in fact set at 100 per cent of the maximum working level.
"Every single tank has been set at 100 per cent of the maximum working level, with the exception of 901 to 905, where it has been set at a higher level than the maximum working level.
"It looks as if at Buncefield the lowest level of alarm was set the same as the maximum level set into the Motherwell (computer] system."
Mr Sumption told the hearing that since the 2005 disaster Total had changed the levels at which alarms sounded at other terminals.
"It looks like after the explosion in their advice to other terminals Total appreciated you had to alter the levels at which alarms were set," he said.
Robin Heels, an expert witness in process safety called by Total, told the court procedures to deal with issues like tank filling did not necessarily have to be written down.
"The procedures should deal with the monitoring and control up until the overfill protection features kick in," he said.
The trial had previously heard that alarms were routinely used at Buncefield to know when a tank was full and there were no written instructions dealing with preventing overfills.
The disaster was caused when alarms failed to sound because a gauge stuck and the automatic cut-out switch did not work because of a maintenance blunder.
Mr Sumption told the court: "The conclusion one should draw from the fact that alarms associated with the tank gauging system are unreliable is that you should never use them as a tool for monitoring and controlling fuel movements."
Residents and businesses are seeking damages of around 700million from Total and Hertfordshire Oil Storage Limited (HOSL), a joint venture between Total and Chevron.
Total is arguing that HOSL is liable for the disaster but Chevron is seeking to prove Total was in fact in control and must pick up the bill.
A two day hearing will take place on November 17 and 18 to progress the settlement of claims and final submissions will begin on December 1.
A final judgement is not expected before the New Year.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Thursday 09 February 2012
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