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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette
Causal Factor: Seal or Gasket
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 81016 2005-08-05 | Coker 1 Heavy Gas Oil pump G2804 problem led to release at the No. 2 Flare | Cause: Seal on coker 1 Heavy Gas Oil pump G2804 failed, causing a localized fire at the pump. Caused coker 1 wet gas compressor K2800 to shutdown due to high drum level. Flare to no. 2. Followup: No Notes: Unit throughput was reduced to minimum and attempts to restart required process equipment were made. Unit feed was changed from sour (high H2S concentrations) to sweet (lower H2S concentrations) to minimize emissions. The unit was stabilized and the flaring ceased. | Nitric Oxide: 68.0 pounds Sulfur Dioxide: 6,968.0 pounds |
| 91605 2006-10-24 | AE-AOA-05-0109 EPN 29 | Cause: Pressure safety valve (PSV) malfunctioned, causing it to relieve below the set pressure. Followup: No Notes: PSV and related equipmt were isolated and taken out of service to end the flaring. PSV was inspected and found to be in need of repair. But, found that o-ring was bad and needed replacing, etc. Letter sent 12 18 06 rescinds prior notifications and revises amts emitted to those listed at left. Had been NOx 564 lbs ; VOC 1925 lbs | Nitrogen Oxide: 20.0 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds: 74.0 pounds |
| 90326 2006-08-29 | #1 Flare - AE-AOA-05-0109 EPN 28 | Cause: primary seal on recycle pump failed and resulted in venting to no. 1 flare. Later another primary seal failed Followup: No Notes: Spare Pump G-7913 was repaired and put in service, ending the incident. refinery has initiated an investigation into the cause | Nitric Oxide: 22.0 pounds |
| 88600 2006-06-14 | #2 Flare - AE-AOA-05-0109 EPN 29 | Cause: compressor shut down due to a low level reading in the lube Oil reservoir which was caused by the discharge of Oil from the west seal Oil trap to the refinery Oily water sewer system. Followup: No Notes: refinery has initiated an investigation into the cause | Nitric Oxide: 27.0 pounds |
| 87873 2006-05-15 | No information given | Cause: seal on a gas oil pump failed. The vapor caught fire but was extinguished promptly. Followup: No Notes: Letter written to rescind notification of 5/15/6. Gas oil cleaned up and pump seal serviced. No human error involved. | |
| 100575 2007-09-04 | #2 Coker Unit | Cause: flare isolation unit on coke drum didn't seal when closed. Opened drum to cut it, flare gas backed into drum to atmosphere. Followup: No Notes: No information given | |
| 97284 2007-06-20 | No information given | Cause: Slightly larger than normal gasket creates imperfect seal. Followup: No Notes: No information given | Sulfolane: 4,865.0 pounds |
| 93908 2007-02-12 | Cat Feed Hdyrotreater Unit (CFHT) / EPN 28 | Cause: CFHT shutdown due to a short in the wiring system. The compressor k-7702 had blown a gasket. The unit depressurized through the emergency flare Followup: No Notes: Feed to the CFHT was reduced and the k-7702 compressor was manually isolated. The unit was depressurized to the flare system, ending the incident. CRLLC sends another letter indicating on 3/22 indicating that investigation continues and revisions to prior reports are pending the results. | Sulfur Dioxide: 3,249.0 pounds |
| 102953 2008-02-08 | No information given | Cause: pump seal failed on G8111 at the #2 Coker causing a fire Followup: No Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ. | Sulfur Dioxide: 3.0 pounds Diesel Fuel: 71.0 pounds Nitrogen Oxide: 1.0 pounds |
| 133880 2011-09-11 | FLARE: Flare No. 1 | Cause: A packing leak developed on the seal of the fire eye cleaning device causing it to malfunction during routine maintenance and allowed combustion gases to escape to the atmosphere and shutting down Train 1 of the SRU (Sulfur Recovery Unit) sending acid gases to the FGM. Flared from flare 1 at a reportable quantity of H2S/SO2. Followup: No Notes: Unit operations were adjusted to minimize the duration and severity of flaring. The SRU Train 1 was switched to oxygen mode so it could process refinery acid gas. Sulfur pit vents on both trains were opened until SRU 1 could process them. To prevcnt this from happening again a re-engineered fire-eye cleaning tool will be constructed. This is expected to be completed by December 31, 2011. CRLLC will not utilize the fire-eye cleaning tool until modification to the tool has been completed. Two employees received first aid treatment. No chronic or acute health risks are anticipated as a result of this release. There was no emergency condition as a result of this release. NO SPOC or LDEQ report. | Hydrogen Sulfide: 220.0 pounds Sulfur Dioxide: 36,579.0 pounds |
| 128972 2011-02-01 | Isobutane Pump number G9005 | Cause: The seal on the isobutane pump failed. Followup: No Notes: BRQ. LDEQ report states that amount released did not surpass the RQ (5000 lbs) for flammable gas. The pump was isolated and taken out of service and the seal was replaced as corrective action. | Compressed Flammable Gas: 1,514.0 pounds |
| 151351 2013-10-01 | Tank Farm, Tank 52 | Cause: On October 1, 2013, personnel identified a leak at Tank 52 charge pump (G-9053) which was determined to be from a mechanical seal failure. The valve on the suction side of the pump malfunctioned. Followup: Yes Notes: The pump was immediately turned off and the valves on the suction and discharge sides of the pump were closed to attempt to isolate the leak from the pump. The valve on the suctions side of the pump malfunctioned and required the use of water to pressure the hydrocarbon material back to Tank 52 until the line could be isolated. The pump will be repaired and inspected prior to being put back in to service. | Benzene: 154.0 pounds Hydrocarbon: 180.6 gallons |
| 154535 2014-03-17 | Outfall 013 Flare #1 | Cause: On Monday, March 17, 2014, at approximately 05:11 hours, the analyzer at the battery limits of the Alkylation unit indicated slightly elevated fluoride levels at the battery limits in the cooling water return system. At approximately 10:30, unit personnel identified that the "D" acid cooler at the unit had developed a leak. Shift super was notified of the potential of a small hydrogen fluoride leak in the cooler. This cooling water return is combined with, and diluted by, the once through cooling water system from other process units which discharges at Outfall 013 into the Mississippi River.
As a result of the leak and shutdown of Alkylation unit, flaring occurred at the #1 flare beginning on March 18 at approximately 17:00 in order to safely shut down the unit. During the permitted flaring event, the waste gas compressor K-406 tripped on March 19 at 20:26 and routed waste gas to the #1 flare. Flaring was completed on March 20 at 19:00. Followup: No Notes: Sampling was conducted at Outfall 013 to measure the fluoride concentration. It was determined that a neutral pH, dilute solution of HF was being discharged through the outfall. Agencies were notified of a potential HF reportable quantity exceedence on March 17 at approximately 16:25. The refinery conservatively estimated all measured fluorides as neutralized HF. All releases of HF were in a diluted water phase and no HF was released to the atmosphere. No reportable quantities were exceeded for HF during the event on a 24-hour rolling basis. This release did not result in any known impacts to the community or environment. | Hydrogen Flouride: 106.0 pounds Sulfur Dioxide: 23,300.0 pounds |
| No LDEQ Reported 2014-03-14 | crude terminal dock | Cause: On Friday, March 14, 2014, at approximately 1707 hours, Chalmette Refinery personnel observed a small visible sheen at the crude terminal dock from utility pump G-2907. A small leak developed on G-2907 and was leaking into the containment area beneath the pump. A small hole had developed in the containment area allowing a small amount of diesel to leak into the river. Followup: No Notes: After isolating the leak operators used absorbent pads to remove hydrocarbons from the pan and deployed initial containment boom into the river. USES were utilized to clean the affected decking and pilings, collected the sheen, and removed the boom. The catch pan below G-2907 will be repaired or replaced. | Diesel Fuel: 0.1 gallons |
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