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Calumet Lubricants 1 (1224), Princeton

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #148561
State Police #13-01977
Accident Date2013-05-07
Report Date 2013-05-08
Follow-up Date 2013-05-17
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Smoke15mH-100-A heater unit (93-1)NONONOBRQ

Accident Classified As: No Information Given

Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

At approximately 7:15 PM on May 7, 2013, a small fire started in the H-100-A heater unit on the Primary Crude Unit. Smoke was released offsite to the atmosphere. No off-side protective action was taken. The crude unit experienced an unexpected computer/electrical shutdown on May 6 and was in the process of a startup. A tube in the heater unit ruptured which caused a small amount of oil to leak into the unit and catch fire. The fire remained inside the heater and no oil was spilled outside the unit.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

During the process of start-up of the primary crude heater unit, a single tube in the convection section had a small leak with the size of approximately 1/8 inch. The leak caused oil to drip inside the firebox.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The incident was secured immediately by stopping the fuel flow to the unit. The fire was extinguished within 5 minutes. The smoke exceeding the 20% opacity limit was emitted for approximately 10 minutes. The unit will be repaired and placed back in service. According to Requirement #79 of Calumet's Title V permit, 0400-00004-V8, the opacity of smoke may not be in excess of 20% for more than one six-minute period in any 60 consecutive minutes. Deviations are to be reported.