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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

The Unit 47 Amine Unit tripped twice on June 24. The trips caused an increase in hydrogen sulfide going to the Unit 43 Fuel Gas Mix Drum which would have normally been removed by the Amine Unit. The Fuel Gas Mix Drum supplies fuel gas to 28 different process heaters within the refinery. As a result, each heater experienced an increase in sulfur dioxide emissions above the maximum allowable permitted lbs/hr rate. The two ambient air monitoring stations located downwind of the incident did not detect a significant increase in sulfur dioxide emissions.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

Operations re-established amine system levels, restarted the Unit 47 lean amine pump and re-established amine circulation to the Amine Treaters. The U-5 LPG Treater amine circulation rate was restricted at a lower flow rate due to foaming/emulsion as evidenced prior to shutdown. The Unit 47 Amine Unit was brought back on-line removing hydrogen sulfide from the fuel gas. Recommendations: - Tech Service to be present while inspecting the Sponge Oil Absorber during the October 2013 Shutdown. - Develop temporary operating guidelines to address tower operation at reduced gas rates. - Issue a lesson learned on this incident to D5, D7, & D8 operators & supervisors. - Add a low level override controller on the U-19/47/221/232/247 amine strippers to reduce the amine flow to their respective treaters. - Add a low level override controller on the U-32 mine stripper flow to the respective treaters (4). - Modify the low level override controller on the U-21 amine stripper flow to the respective treaters (3) to include #3 TGTU.