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Phillips 66 (2418), Belle Chasse

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #96490
State Police #07-02700
Accident Date2007-05-23
Report Date 2007-08-29
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
Carbon Monoxide22 h 54 mCarbon Monoxide Bypass StackNOYESNO996,323.0 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide93 h 51mLow Pressure Flare, High Pressure Flare, SRU incinerator Stack, 191-PV-105, HeatersNOYESNO42,788.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)15 m410-PSV-62NONOYES49,498.0 pounds
Hydrocarbon39 h 2 mInduction gas relief valve (APC-105), Low Pressure Flare, High Pressure FlareNONOYES17,959.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide7 h 54mLow Pressure Flare (308F-D-1), High Pressure Flare, 191 APC-105NONONO474.0 pounds
Nitrogen Oxide37 h 34 mLow Pressure Flare, High Pressure Flare, 191-PV-105NOYESYES138.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Weather

During a rain storm the line from Entergy's substation tripped. The loss of power forced most of the refinery's process units to shutdown resulting in flaring. While shutting down the 191 crude unit the pressure controller relieved vapors and liquid hydrocarbons from a vent at the top of the Vacuum Tower. The hydrocarbons ignited and caused a fire at the top of the Vacuum Tower. With most of the process units down there was insufficient feed to keep the SRU tail gas treater online. The tail gas was routed to the SRU incinerator. When units were started up again they required more flaring for prepare for recommissioning.

Discharge Preventable - No

Power outage was considered not predictable.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Determined that although there are back up systems there are no ways to prepare for these types of power outages. Electrical department will preform preventative maintenance and replacement of components. 191-PV-105 pressure controller at the crude unit no longer vents to the atmosphere. Piping was installed that routes gases from this vent directly to the flare.