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Phillips 66 (2418), Belle Chasse
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 110898 |
| State Police # | 08-4538 |
| Accident Date | 2008-11-19 |
| Report Date | 2009-02-04 |
| Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
| Follow-up: | No |
Pollutants Released
| Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
| Sulfur Dioxide | 5510 Minutes | 308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare); 191-FF (191-PSV-009A); 191-FF (191-PSV-011) | NO | YES | NO | 1,951.0 pounds |
| Crude Oil | 5510 Minutes | 308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare); 191-FF (191-PSV-009A); 191-FF (191-PSV-011) | NO | NO | NO | 4,805.0 pounds |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | 5510 Minutes | 308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare); 191-FF (191-PSV-009A); 191-FF (191-PSV-011) | NO | NO | NO | 5.0 pounds |
| Hydrocarbon | 5510 Minutes | 308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare); 191-FF (191-PSV-009A); 191-FF (191-PSV-011) | NO | NO | YES | 150,428.0 pounds |
| Nitrogen Oxide | 5510 Minutes | 308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare); 191-FF (191-PSV-009A); 191-FF (191-PSV-011) | NO | YES | YES | 5.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As:
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure
On 11/19/09, the refinery "experienced an unexpected internal electrical power phase to ground fault." This fault caused a power interruption from internal Substation 5D to the Crude Unit 191 and resulted in the loss of most of the Crude Unit's pumps and several fin fans causing a major unit upset and emergency shutdown. These upset operations subsequently caused the Atmospheric Tower's pressure relief valve (191-PSV-009A) to open to protect the upper section of the Atmospheric Tower. An attempt to circulate the liquid inventory in the Vacuum Tower (VT) back to the Crude Tanks caused as unexpected high liquid level and the VT pressure relief valve (191-PSV-011) opened up to protect the upper section of the VT. This relief valve relieved vapors, liquid hydrocarbons, and crude oil from a vent at the top of the VT. The loss of the Crude Unit forced most of the refinery's process units to shutdown resulting in intermittent flaring. Following the shutdown and the re-establishment of power to substation 5D, the process of restarting several refinery units was initiated. The Coker Unit's Compressor (891-K-1) motor amp limit controller (PJC-404) unexpectedly opened the flare valve (PPC-998) due to a very high motor amperage surge at its initial start. Flares smoked intermittently throughout shutdown and startup events. Fenceline monitoring indicated "no offsite impact." Fenceline monitoring
Discharge Preventable - No
"Unanticipated failure of the internal electrical supply to Crude Unit 191."
Notes/Remedial Actions
Immediate: Units were shut down until electrical supply was repaired. After a formal investigation, the cause of the incident was determined to be a loose connection between the bus and runback rod that put enough electrical load on the connecting bolt to melt it thus creating the ground fault. Connecting bolts are now inspected and replaced as necessary, COP electricians are being further trained, and a QC checklist and testing procedures to verify proper electrical connections have been implemented. Discharge classified as "Extremely Hazardous Substance" Regulated by OSHA HazCom
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