NWI Times reported that BP is suing five companies associated with a fireproofing material used in its multibillion dollar modernization project at the Whiting Refinery, claiming the product is defective and causing property damage, federal court records show.
BP filed the federal lawsuit on Monday against Carboline Co, Trinity Steel Fabricators, Inc, Schuff Steel Co, Tecon Services, Inc and Alfred Miller Contracting Co companies that either manufactured, supplied, prepared or applied the fireproofing material to structural steel at the Whiting Refinery, court records state.
BP claims the damage caused by the product comes at "great cost" to the company. As part of its modernization project, BP required "thousands of tons of new structural steel, some of which were coated with a fireproofing material known as Pyrocrete.
Pyrocrete is a fireproofing product Carboline Co. recommends for use as outdoor fire protection in petrochemical plants, refineries and offshore platforms, according to the lawsuit. It is supposed to be a durable material that resists cracking and impact damage, prevents disbondment and requires less material for projects.
BP claims the Pyrocrete in the Whiting Refinery is crumbling, discolored, flaking, cracking, splitting and soft, court records state.
BP said the companies named in the lawsuit all refused to remedy or accept responsibility for the problem. It claims damages exceed $75,000, according to the complaint.
The entire modernization project is expected to be complete by the second half of 2013. The project has cost BP several billions of dollars to date.
