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Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #148240
State Police #13-01715
Accident Date2013-04-20
Report Date 2013-04-25
Follow-up Date 2013-10-23
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNOYESNO75.9 pounds
Methane1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareYESNOYES17.5 pounds
Ethane1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES1.7 pounds
Ethylene1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES0.1 pounds
Propane1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES3.9 pounds
n-Butane1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONONO2.3 pounds
Isobutane1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES2.1 pounds
1-Butene1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES0.0 pounds
cis-2-Butene1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONONO0.0 pounds
Carbon Dioxide1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareYESNONO43.7 pounds
Hydrogen1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONONO4.1 pounds
Nitrogen1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONONO0.9 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONONO0.8 pounds
NOx1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES3.0 pounds
Carbon Monoxide1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNOYESNO16.1 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONOYES8.5 pounds
Particulate Matter 101H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNOYESNO0.3 pounds
Particulate Matter 2.51H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNOYESNO0.3 pounds
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs)1H 23MUnit 259 North Ground FlareNONONO0.1 pounds

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

On April 20, 2013 the Unit 210 Crude Unit experienced an upset due to a change in the incoming crude state. The flaring in U210 and U222 associated with the upset started at 7:12 AM on April 20, 2013 and was complete at 8:35 AM on April 20, 2013. The duration of Unit 210 and 222 venting to the North Ground Flare was 83 minutes. Approximately 75 pounds of sulfur dioxide were released. The Unit 210 Crude Unit experienced an upset due to a change in the incoming crude state. The incoming crude had a greater quantity of light components as well as some water. The upset resulted in high liquid levels in vessels upstream of the crude off-gas compressors and the sals gas compressor. In order to minimize the amount of liquid sent to the compressors, which could cause a shutdown of the compressor, a portion of the liquid generated in the upset was routed to the North Ground Flare knock out drum. This action reduced the severity of the incident.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

The routing of liquids to the flare was done intentionally to remove excess liquid in the gas streams faster and prevent a shutdown of the crude off-gas compressor, which would have resulted in a flaring event with a significantly higher quantity of emissions.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The crude tank line up was modified to remove the tank thought to be the cause of the water and light ends going to the Crude Unit. In addition, the crude charge rate was reduced to help manage the unit upset. The routing of liquids to the flare knock out drum was an attempt to minimize the results of the upset and prevent equipment shutdowns which would ahve resulted in a much more significant release. An additional followup on 10/23/13 corrected the initial followup report's emissions data regarding greenhouse gas releases.