Chevron said the explosion, during maintenance, destroyed one 730 cubic metre storage tank and damaged another.
Non-essential work was suspended on Friday. Chevron said it had launched its own investigation, alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with one storage tank destroyed and another damaged in the incident.
Production was able to continue but the company had decided to suspend all non-essential work on Friday. A spokeswoman said Chevron was a "close family" and counselling was being offered to the 1,400-strong workforce.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the bodies would remain at the scene and indentification would be protracted because of the severity of the accident.
Their recovery is being made more difficulty by the unstable nature of the building.
I arrived late on Thursday night to find the road leading to the refinery blocked off and signs that the emergency services were at the site.
As the refinery it is such a huge complex it was hard initially to assess the scale of the damage.
On Friday morning the scene surrounding the refinery appeared to be fairly normal, but our news helicopter was able to reveal the scale of the damage around the exploded tank.
Although people here are clearly used to living next door to a refinery and the potential hazard that that entails, this event has clearly shaken them.
Most people in the community know at least one person working at the plant and are worried about the identities of those killed and injured.
Five Mid and West Wales fire crews joined the refinery's own fire fighters in tackling the blaze, while specialist fire units, including foam vehicles and a chemical incident unit were sent to the scene.
Greg Hanggi, refinery general manager, said: "The loss of our co-workers has come as a huge shock to us all.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to their families. We will ensure that all employees and contractors are fully supported throughout this difficult time."
He added that Chevron would take every step possible to determine the series of events leading to the tragic incident and ensure that any lessons would be learned.
Mr Hanggi also paid tribute to the emergency services who attended.
First Minister Carwyn Jones offered his sympathy to bereaved families and workers, adding: "I am shocked to learn of the accident at the Chevron refinery in Pembroke".
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan added her condolences to families and colleagues of the dead.
"We've been in contact with Chevron and Milford Haven Port Authority and asked to be kept fully informed about the investigation into this tragic event," she said.
"It is essential to understand how this tragedy occurred."
Eyewitnesses in the area described the moment when the blast occurred.
Marcus Lutwyche, owner of a shop in the village of Angle near the refinery, said: "I ran to the front and saw a huge plume of smoke. It was black and filled the sky. It must have been 50 or so metres wide."
His wife, Joanne Lutwyche, said: "Quite a few people in the village work at Chevron and would have been changing shifts when the explosion happened, so everyone's really concerned for who might be involved.(bbc)
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