HOUSTON \u2013 If you heard a loud boom near the Houston Ship Channel on Sunday morning, then you probably heard the sound of the planned implosion at the LyondellBasell Houston Refinery.<\/p>\n
The chemical company says it carried out a controlled demolition of two inactive coker units at the refinery, located at 12000 Lawndale Street facilities. <\/p>\n
Watch the raw video<\/p>\n
The structures\u2014about 350 feet tall\u2014have been inactive since refining operations at the site ended in early 2025. LyondellBasell says the implosion is part of the company\u2019s long-term transition of the property and is the final step in the coker-unit demolition work that started last year.<\/p>\n
The company said preparations began around sunrise (about 6:30 a.m.) with final safety checks and coordination with local law enforcement. The implosion was conducted by contractor GSD Companies within a secured 1,000-foot exclusion zone on the north side of the site, and once it started, the demolition lasted only a few minutes.<\/p>\n
People nearby may have heard a brief sound and seen a short-lived dust plume at the time of the implosion\u2014effects the company said were expected and temporary. <\/p>\n
Sky2 was over the implosion site to capture the moment.<\/p>\n
LyondellBasell said engineering analysis and planning indicated sound, vibration and air-quality impacts outside the exclusion zone were expected to be minimal, and that any visible dust would be light and temporary.<\/p>\n
Drivers in the area could also have seen brief traffic controls near Highway 225 or nearby access roads. <\/p>\n
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