Connect With Us:

Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure

The cause of the incident was an unforeseen failure of a level indication to a control valve on a water wash vessel. This failure allowed hydrocarbons to enter the oily water sewer. Hydrocarbons from an oily water sewer backed up into the K-16 pit where a portion evaporated into the atmosphere.

Discharge Preventable - No

This event was unforeseen and could not have been predicted. This event was a malfunction of a level indication to a control valve

Notes/Remedial Actions

Evaporative loss calculations indicate that Benzene and flammable gas reportable quantities were exceeded. The length of time was estimated from the time the water wash level controller valve output opened fully to the time the K16 pump pit was foamed and draining activities initiated. Upon discovery of hydrocarbon in the K-16 pit, a search of the source of hydrocarbon was initiated. When identified as the source of the hydrocarbon to the oily water sewer, the water wash valve was closed. In addition, foam was applied to the K-16 pit to limit the amount of evaporation to the atmosphere and vacuum trucks were called to remove the remaining material in the pit. A block has been added to the TDC water wash level controller to limit the flow rate of material to the oily water sewer.