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Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #159275
State Police #14-04551
Accident Date2014-10-09
Report Date 2014-10-16
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Heavy Gas Oil15mUnit 205, Delayed Coking UnitNONONO1.0 gallons

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

The 1201 drum in the Delayed Coking Unit was on line. There was a small anti-foam and Heavy Gas Oil (HGO) carrier leaking from a flange. The leak saturated the insulation on the side of the 1201 drum. As plant insulators were working to remove the insulation, air hit the saturated insulation. When combined with the heat from the drum, a small fire was ignited. Facility report to the State Police Hazmat Hotline states that the material involved was Anti-foam (a kerosene mixture including 60-100% kerosene).

Discharge Preventable - Yes

The line carrying the antifoam was unsupported underneath the 5th deck of the Coker structure due to improperly installed spring cans. The improper loading on the spring cans compromised the supports cans, causing the stress of the unsupported line to be transferred to the nozzle of the drum. This stress caused an issue on the flange at the nozzle which caused the flange to leak.

Notes/Remedial Actions

At the time of the accident, the fire was extinguished and the leaking line was blocked in to stop the leak. Report states that a new designed spring support cans will be properly installed by the end of 2014.