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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Phillips 66 (2418), Belle Chasse

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Corrosion

A very small dripping leak was discovered on loading Dock 1 on the gasoline loading line. The line that leaked was not in use for any vessel loading, but it was pressured up as gasoline was being loaded onto a vessel at Dock 2. Upon discovery of the leak, the Dock 1 line was isolated from the refinery system supplying the Dock 2 loading, and the visual rate observed was 1 drop per second. The worse case duration would be 150 minutes. After calculations, the estimated volume of the release is .12 gallons. On 11/19/12, leakage was observed dripping from the clamped area. Given that the line remained isolated, Monday's leak was caused by thermal expansion of the product in the blocked in section of the loading line. Operators reduced the pressure on the pipe and the leak stopped; this process has continued to prevent any other leakage. A hanging scaffold was erected to allow placement of a containment under the clamped area. The leak rate observed was variable, but estimated as .5 gallons per hour and the duration was 35 minutes; therefore the total spill volume is less than 1 gallon. The leak was a result of external corrosion on the bottom of the Dock 1 loading line.

Discharge Preventable - No

The leak was the result of external corrosion on the bottom of Dock 1 gasoline loading line, apparently caused by localized paint failure. This section of piping was inspected and pressure tested on 10/11/12 with no deficiencies noted.

Notes/Remedial Actions

An engineered, permanent clamp will be installed by 11/26/12. Future mechanical integrity assessments of over water piping will also employ a boat to allow better inspection of the bottom of the piping. Less than a gallon of gasoline was released.