Event description

During a routine inspection of Tube’s oil storage facility, it was revealed that hackers had seemingly penetrated the company’s system and spoofed the sensor readings three months prior to inspection. As a result, the facility was systematically underfilled by 20%. Despite this, the control panel continued to show that the tanks were 100% full. Over time, such inefficient use of storage capacity led to significant financial losses. Experts estimate the damage at nearly USD 2 million.

Consequences

1. Deception of employees
2. Financial damage

This has happened before

Trend Micro

Tampered U.S. gas pumps point to Anonymous group

In a thorough investigation of gas pumps that use the Guardian aboveground storage tanks (AST) monitoring system in the United States, threat researchers Kyle Wilhoit and Stephen Hilt found one particular unit tampered with. Attackers changed the pump name from DIESEL to WE_ARE_LEGION, the slogan often used by Anonymous. The affected system was only one from a total of 1,515 gas pumps in the U.S. that the researchers found connected to the internet but virtually unsecured from possible attacks.

Event description

One of Tube’s largest oil depots has temporarily suspended deliveries of petroleum products due to an accident. The cause was the false activation of the fire-extinguishing system, during which large quantities of fire-fighting agent were fed into the tanks with petroleum products. Foam was introduced both internally (through built-in bottom foam generators) and from above, making the fuel unsuitable for sale. It has been established that hackers gained control over the fire-extinguishing system of the entire oil depot and deliberately activated it: all tanks at the oil depot began to "extinguish" themselves in succession.

To resolve the issue, the company needs to replace the affected fire extinguishers and clear the tanks of foam, which will take time and money. In addition, there is too much spoiled product for the reserve containers to hold.

Consequences

1. Damage to company property
2. Enterprise disruptions and downtime
3. Financial damage
4. Product quality deterioration

This has happened before

CNBC

Texas petrochemical fire spreads to more storage tanks after firefighting snag

Pumps on two boats feeding water to firefighters malfunctioned for about six hours on Monday evening. As a result, two more tanks, one empty and the other containing toluene, a volatile liquid used to make nail polish remover and paint thinner, caught fire.