Explosion rocks West Texas refinery

BIG SPRING, Texas – An explosion rocked an oil refinery in this West Texas city Monday morning in a violent blast that shook buildings miles away.

The 8:30 a.m. blast sent black smoke billowing into the sky, shut down a major interstate and left residents rattled.


The Big Spring refinery is owned by Dallas-based Alon USA, employs about 170 people and produces about 70,000 barrels a day. Blake Lewis, a spokesman for Alon USA, said the blast sent one Alon worker to the hospital, but other employees were safe. Two contract workers were unaccounted for.

John Moseley, managing editor of the Big Spring Herald, heard the blast. “I thought it would knock the walls down,” he said.

Dallas Morning News