LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #	156037
State Police #	14-02127
Accident Date	2014-05-18
Report Date	2014-05-23
Follow-up Date	2014-06-10
Follow-up:	Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant	Duration	Point Source	Greenhouse Gas	Criteria Pollutant	Ozone forming chemical	Amount of Release
Benzene	2h 3m	Tank 143, EQT 0130, Logistics Area	NO	NO	YES	4.1 pounds
Naphtha	2h 3m	Tank 143, EQT 0130, Logistics Area	NO	NO	YES	13,200.0 pounds
Xylene	2h 3m	Tank 143, EQT 0130, Logistics Area	NO	NO	NO	185.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Citgo reported a naphtha release from Tank 143 (A 23,500 barrel feed tank for the A Reformer Unit). The real ease began when there was a reverse flow of hydrogen (caused by an unexpected shut down of the A reformer feed pumps) into the tank from the A Reformer Unit. This reverse flow caused the level in the tank to increase rapidly, lifting the roof and damaging the floating roof seal, allowing product to drain off the roof and into the tank dike area. Fence line monitoring, conducted during the incident reported no readings of a volatile compound. As a effort to reduce VOC emissions, foam was applied to the product during the night. In a letter dated 5/23/14 Citgo requested additional time to provide release calculations for the incident. According to the report the LDEQ quants for flammable liquid and benzene from volatilization were exceeded. 53 barrels of Heavy Naptha Mixture were released from the tank and contacted the ground. Approximately 37.5 barrels were recovered and the balance evaporated. 50 pounds of Benzene a naphtha constituent released from evaporation.

Discharge Preventable - No

Given the configuration of the system at the time of the even and the unexpected shutdown of the A-Reformer geed pumps, this incident was not preventable.

Notes/Remedial Actions