LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #	143319
PDF Available	PDF
State Police #	12-06413
Accident Date	2012-09-23
Report Date	2012-09-27
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
Nitric Oxide	8m	Emissions from Flare	NO	YES	NO	0.2 pounds
Carbon Monoxide	8m	Emissions from flare	NO	YES	NO	0.8 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide	8m	emissions from flare and Unit 45 Thermal Oxidizer	NO	YES	NO	90.7 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	YES	1.4 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	0.1 pounds
Methane	8m	emissions from flare	YES	NO	YES	0.2 pounds
Ethane	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	YES	0.2 pounds
n-Butane	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	0.2 pounds
n-Pentane	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	0.2 pounds
1-Pentene	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	YES	0.2 pounds
Pentene Plus	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	0.2 pounds
Natural Gas	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	28,000.0 pounds
n-Hexane	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	BRQ
Hydrogen	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	NO	BRQ
Particulate Matter 10	8m	emissions from flare	NO	YES	NO	BRQ
Particulate Matter 2.5	8m	emissions from flare	NO	YES	NO	BRQ
Propane	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	YES	0.5 pounds
Isobutane	8m	emissions from flare	NO	NO	YES	0.1 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Marathon experienced a partial power outage caused by a malfunctioning substation in the refinery resulted in multiple pieces of equipment in the refinery losing power. Low pressure stripper Offgas flared in the South Flare due to partial power outage. Enterprise incident due to a plant farther downstream that had uncharacteristically ceased operation due to an upset condition. The pressure safety valve, as designed, released discharging natural gas to atmosphere due to high pressure on the pipeline caused by the upset condition farther down the line. Emission points involved were the Unit 59 North Flare and the Unit 45 Thermal Oxidizer.

Discharge Preventable - No

Marathon release was not preventable. The loss of power and the malfunction of substation was not anticipated. This substation is part of the refinery's preventative maintenance program. Enterprise incident was not preventable. They cannot predict upset conditions. The PSV functioned as designed.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Marathon power was restored and the equipment that was shutdown was restarted to minimize further releases. An incident investigation will result in recommendation items designed to prevent the recurrence of this event. High sulfur dioxide from one of the thermal oxidizer stacks in Unit 45 and in addition to a small amount of Unit 15 low pressure stripper offgas was flared which contains a small amount of hydrogen sulfide which is converted to sulfur dioxide in the North Flare. Emission points involved were the Unit 59 North Flare and the Unit 45 Thermal Oxidizer. Enterprise personnel immediately began the process of taking the plant down in order to end the release event. Amount of natural gas released is above reportable quantity.