If you heard a loud boom Sunday morning in Southeast Houston, you weren’t imagining it.

“Sound levels at the point of implosion may reach approximately 140 decibels within the secured 1000 ft exclusion zone—similar to fireworks at close range or aircraft engines during takeoff,” LYB posted to Facebook on Friday, giving notice of the planned demolition. 

Video footage shows the towering structures crumbling to the ground in just a few minutes at the 12000 Lawndale St. site. The company said nearby residents might’ve heard a short burst of noise or noticed a temporary dust plume—both expected and part of the controlled demolition process.

“Just came to ask if anybody had heard any explosions/booms around the times of 6:30-7:00 AM  CST,” one user wrote. “I heard 2 back-to-back, but after that, nothing.”

“I thought it was thunder,” wrote another. 

The units demolished Sunday were 350–foot-tall cokers that have been inactive since LYB began decommissioning its refining activities at the site in 2025, as reported by KHOU 11. The job was contracted to GSD Companies, a Houston-based industrial services firm.

LYB said it continues to assess future options for the site that would support company circularity and low carbon initiatives.

“Alternatives under consideration include development of commercial-scale chemical recycling infrastructure with the company’s proprietary MoReTec technology,” the company wrote on its website. “Other options range from exploring production of renewable and bio-based feedstocks, to supporting growth in low-carbon feedstocks and products.”