Was Universal Oil asbestos documented in litigation?

Universal Oil is documented in public asbestos litigation records as a manufacturer whose products contained asbestos during the mid-twentieth century. Workers in industrial facilities, power plants, refineries, shipyards, and commercial construction who handled or worked near these products may have experienced occupational exposure.

Which trades had the most exposure?

Pipe coverers and insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, millwrights, and maintenance workers are among the trades most frequently documented in asbestos exposure claims. Workers who cut, fitted, or removed asbestos-containing products — and those working in close proximity during that work — typically had the highest fiber concentrations.

How long do workers have to file an asbestos claim?

Statutes of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims vary by state, typically ranging from one to five years from the date of an asbestos-related diagnosis. The clock generally starts at diagnosis, not exposure — mesothelioma can have a latency period of 20 to 50 years. An asbestos attorney can identify the deadlines that apply to your specific situation.

Can workers file claims related to Universal Oil asbestos exposure?

Yes. Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis after exposure to Universal Oil products may pursue claims through civil litigation. An experienced asbestos attorney can assess available defendants, applicable trust funds from co-defendants, and the states where claims can be filed most effectively.

Can family members file secondary exposure claims?

Spouses, children, and household members who developed asbestos-related disease through contact with contaminated work clothing brought home by an exposed worker may be eligible for secondary (household) exposure claims. Wrongful-death claims can also be filed by surviving family members of workers who died from asbestos-related disease.

Refineries

UOP Alkylation Unit Process-Piping, Reactor-Effluent, and Fractionator Flange Gaskets

⚖ Litigation Record1945-1985Allegedly asbestos-containing compressed sheet and spiral-wound flange gaskets with asbestos filler at reactor-effluent piping, acid-settler flanges, isobutane recycle piping, and depropanizer/deisobutanizer fractionator flanges on UOP-licensed and UOP-supplied HF and sulfuric-acid alkylation units — cut and replaced by pipefitters and boilermakers during refinery turnaround work.

Overview Product Facts Trades

Litigation Record: Information below reflects allegations in publicly filed asbestos litigation — plaintiff allegations, not findings of fact.

Product Description

Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Universal Oil Products Company (UOP) licensed, designed, and supplied alkylation units — both HF-acid and sulfuric-acid processes — to U.S. refineries across the mid-20th century, and that the flanged process piping around the reactor-effluent, acid-settler, isobutane recycle, and depropanizer/deisobutanizer fractionator sections was sealed with allegedly asbestos-containing compressed sheet gaskets and spiral-wound gaskets with asbestos filler material as originally specified and as replaced during turnarounds.

According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, a UOP alkylation unit turnaround required pipefitters to break dozens of process-piping flanges around the reactor, acid settler, and fractionator column bases, scrape the aged asbestos gasket material from the raised-face mating surfaces, and cut and install fresh CAF sheet or spiral-wound rings — with the scraping and cutting operations at the flange face allegedly releasing respirable asbestos fibers into the pipefitter’s breathing zone throughout the turnaround.

Workers Exposed

Pipefitters breaking and remaking reactor-effluent, acid-settler, isobutane recycle, and fractionator process-piping flanges
Boilermakers performing reactor, settler, and column internal repairs and manway gasket work
Insulators stripping and re-applying process-piping and column insulation around flange work
Millwrights and mechanics performing rotating-equipment work on alkylation-unit pumps and compressors

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If you or a family member worked at Universal Oil Products (UOP) Alkylation Unit and were exposed to asbestos-containing materials at this facility — and were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease — you may be entitled to significant compensation. Time-sensitive filing deadlines apply.

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Product Facts

Trade NameUOP Alkylation Unit Process-Piping, Reactor-Effluent, and Fractionator Flange Gaskets

Years Produced1945-1985

Asbestos ContentAllegedly asbestos-containing compressed sheet and spiral-wound flange gaskets with asbestos filler at reactor-effluent piping, acid-settler flanges, isobutane recycle piping, and depropanizer/deisobutanizer fractionator flanges on UOP-licensed and UOP-supplied HF and sulfuric-acid alkylation units — cut and replaced by pipefitters and boilermakers during refinery turnaround work.

CategoryRefineries Gaskets-Packing Chemical-Plants

Trust FundNo active trust

Exposed Trades & Occupations

PipefittersBoilermakersInsulatorsMillwrights

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Were You Exposed to an Asbestos-Containing Product?

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and were exposed to asbestos-containing products, you and your family may be entitled to significant compensation through asbestos trust funds and civil litigation. An attorney experienced in product liability and asbestos claims can evaluate your case — at no cost to you.

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No attorney fee unless we make a financial recovery
Statutes of limitations may limit the time you have to act
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Asbestos Product Liability & Mesothelioma Claims

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