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CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles

Causal Factor: Instrument Failure

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date		 Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
81886

2005-09-01		Tank 521
Cause: Light control valve causing the PSV to actuate from Tank 521.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Investigation indicated potential faulty pressure reading resulted in relief system actuating. Pressure indicator has been recalibrated. An evaluation is being conducted re: location of the pressure indicator and pipe vent system. Delayed report to state police because Hotline circuits were busy.		Flammable Gas: 22,151.0 pounds
76259

2005-01-15		Tank 52
Cause: Tank 52 level gage malfunctioned

Followup: No

Notes: Being monitored by hand gauging until tank gage is repaired		Phenol: 1,814.0 pounds
Ortho-Cresol: 401.0 pounds
88861 & 88862

2006-06-25		CLAW
Cause: level controller malfcuntion st the Lube Vacuum Unit 1

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ

95526

2007-04-20		A-Sulfur Recovery Unit
Cause: analyzer malfunction at the A-Sulfur Recovery Unit

Followup: No

Notes: off site odor complaint


94672

2007-03-15		Tank #81
Cause: tank gauge was damaged and did not indicate that tank was overflowing; - tank seals damaged

Followup: No

Notes: Report indicates that DEQ deferred incident to next inspection. According to Citgo's Lebendorfer, liquid on side of tank was water from seal
107976

2008-08-13		C-Dock
Cause: malfunction of automatic sump level indicator gauge results in sump overflow

Followup: No

Notes: Sump level indicators repaired		Slop Oil: 3.0 pounds
Sulfuric Acid: 101.0 pounds
116794

2009-07-25		Tank 528
Cause: Tank 528 was filled with butane. Natural gas, used to displace butane in the barge was introduced into Tank 528. This was caused when a malfunctioning level indicator in the barge allowed the butane level to fall to a point where natural gas could enter the transfer line. The increase in pressure in Tank 528 tripped the pressure safety valve(PSV) causing flammable gas to be vented to the atmosphere.

Followup: No

Notes: Transfer line was blocked and head space pressure lowered.		Flammable Gas: 2,307.0 pounds
129077

2011-02-06		C-Cat PC152 Instrument
Cause: State police report states that the C-Cat PC152 instrument failure caused over-pressurization of the E1 Fractionator.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that "review of operating data showed that no RQ were exceeded." Pressure was relieved by releasing the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide to the B-7 Flare. Refinery letter and SPOC report only. No LDEQ report.

141792

2012-08-02		K-16 pit
Cause: The cause of the incident was an unforeseen failure of a level indication to a control valve on a water wash vessel. This failure allowed hydrocarbons to enter the oily water sewer. Hydrocarbons from an oily water sewer backed up into the K-16 pit where a portion evaporated into the atmosphere.

Followup: No

Notes: Evaporative loss calculations indicate that Benzene and flammable gas reportable quantities were exceeded. The length of time was estimated from the time the water wash level controller valve output opened fully to the time the K16 pump pit was foamed and draining activities initiated. Upon discovery of hydrocarbon in the K-16 pit, a search of the source of hydrocarbon was initiated. When identified as the source of the hydrocarbon to the oily water sewer, the water wash valve was closed. In addition, foam was applied to the K-16 pit to limit the amount of evaporation to the atmosphere and vacuum trucks were called to remove the remaining material in the pit. A block has been added to the TDC water wash level controller to limit the flow rate of material to the oily water sewer.		Benzene: 59.0 pounds
Flammable Gas: 2,252.0 pounds