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Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #128080
State Police #10-07033
Accident Date2010-12-09
Report Date 2010-12-16
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 Dioxide5 mFCC Unit 205NOYESNO208.4 pounds
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds5 mFCC Unit 205NONOYES0.6 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)5 mFCC Unit 205NONOYES3.4 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide5 mFCC Unit 205NONONO0.6 pounds
Nitric Oxide5 mFCC Unit 205NOYESNO4.0 pounds
Carbon Monoxide5 mFCC Unit 205NOYESNO3.4 pounds
Particulate Matter 105 mFCC Unit 205NOYESNO0.3 pounds

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Power Failure

Due to an unexpected loss of power to the control system of the Unit 25 FCCU. FCCU shut down as designed which resulted in less gas feed to the Unit 205 Coker. This decreased in feed caused the Coker Wet Gas Compressor Suction Drum to briefly exceed the maximum safe operating pressure of the drum which resulted in the Coker Wet Gas relieving tot he ground flare. There was no known offsite impacts resulting from this incident. The emissions from the FCCU shut down are permitted as part of the overall North Flare. Compressor spillback opened rapidly to compensate and a high pressure was reached on the suction drum. Pressure control valve opened to flare once pressure reached 21 psig.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Unknown at this time. All aspects of this incident are currently under investigation. Once the Tap Root analysis is completed, all recommendations will be implemented in a timely manner. This investigation process is documented through the refinery's Knowledge Management System (KMS).

Notes/Remedial Actions

The FCCU was safely shut down and all other related unit feed rates were adjusted per the FCCU shutdown plan. The Coker Unit Wet Gas Compressor control system compensated for the increased suction pressure by increasing the compressor speed. All aspects of this incident are currently under investigation.