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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: No Information Given

On January 22, 2014 Motiva Enterprises LLC (Motiva) Convent Refinery reported a release with injury due to sulfuric acid leak on the Alky Unit. Motiva reported the incident as per LAC 33:V.10111. B as it was unknown at the time of the even if the injured personnel would require emergency treatment. However, the injured person was assessed by Motiva Medical and received first-aid treatment only. The incident did not constitute an emergency condition as per LAC 33:I.3195 or as defined in LAC 33:I.3905, as it did not endanger the health and safety of the public, cause significant adverse impact to the land, water or air environment, or cause severe damage to property. The release of sulfuric acid did include some entrained hydrocarbons, was contained within secondary containment (the unit containment system). The entrained hydrocarbons included C3 through C8 hydrocarbons; however, based on process engineering calculations, there was no reportable quantity release of the hydrocarbons. Therefore the release was not an unauthorized discharge exceeding a reportable quantity as per LAC 33:I.3917.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

Motiva's report states that the release of sulfuric acid was contained within the unit containment system. The report also refers to a previous report regarding the worker's injury which was not included in this documentation. There is no detail as to how and why the accident occurred and how it could be prevented in the future nor how the spillage in the unit containment system was disposed of. The spill is recorded as below reportable quantity yet there was still enough to cause worker injury.