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Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

Causal Factor: Piping or Tubing

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
79935

2005-06-17
Regenerator Outlet piping in the Butane Isomerization Unit (no EPN)
Cause: There was a pinhole leak in the regenerator pipeline tubing.

Followup: No

Notes: Regenerator was shut down and a clamp was installed on the line prior to returning the line to service. Below Reportable Quantities
Isobutane: 8.4 pounds
76597

2005-01-29
A flange on the 54" line from the FCCU Reactor to the Main Fractionator. (no EPN)
Cause: There was a fire on the flange. The cause of the fire was not specified.

Followup: No

Notes: The fire was extinguished. The flange was tightened. "Fire did not emit any known pollutants."

91732

2006-10-28
Unit 37 Cooling Tower
Cause: PVC suction line pipe broken (s06-3392) from the cooling system tower releasing 200 gallons of Sodium Hypochlorite Solution into the surrounding soil.

Followup: No

Notes: Sodium Hydrochlorite tank in Unit 37 Tower area. The material was cleaned as soon as possible.
Sodium Hypochlorite: 200.0 pounds
91306

2006-10-12
No Specific emission point associated with this spill
Cause: A 3/4 inch PVC hose fitting failed on the pump suction from the temporary sodium hydrochlorite tank/under investigation

Followup: No

Notes: Currently under investigation.
Sodium Hydrochlorite: 2,976.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-10-08
Alky Cooling Tower (EIQ 61-74/ EQT 043)
Cause: A pin hole leak was found on the on the Alky C4 Overhead Condenser, which affected the allky cooling tower.

Followup: No

Notes: BELOW REPORTABLE QUANTITY.
Butane: 40.0 pounds
90703

2006-09-15
Butamer Trim Cooler (28-1305-01) had a leak into FCCU Cooling Tower (EIQ 123-91/EQT 049)
Cause: The Butamer Trim Cooler was found to have a pin-hole leak and was leaking into the cooling water, which affected the FCCU Cooling Tower.

Followup: No

Notes: Unit shut down to locate the source of the leak, but no remedial action was taken to prevent reoccurrence. BELOW REPORTABLE QUANTITY.
Isobutane: 316.0 pounds
97250

2007-06-20
Leaking flange downstream of control valve on the fractionator reflux line in the HF Alkylation Unit
Cause: Flange leak

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ.
Hydrogen Flouride: 0.5 pounds
Propane: 3.7 pounds
Isobutane: 18.8 pounds
n-Butane: 3.2 pounds
Pentane: 0.1 pounds
96834

2007-06-06
Three pinhole leaks in the Unit 28 Butane Isomerization Regen line and North Flare
Cause: same leak that was clamped earlier in the year

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ.
Butane: 978.0 pounds
96604

2007-05-30
Dock 1
Cause: The oily water sewer sump backed up due to the ballast water line eing out of service for maintenance. Release into Mississippi

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below reportable quantities. Containment boom was in place already under the dock due to previous problem with the ballast water line.
Oil: 2.0 pounds
96397

2007-05-18
North Flare
Cause: Alky Butane Splitter/Chill Water Condesnser had a tube leak.

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ. Emission contained iso butane and propane.
Volatile Organic Compounds: 142.5 pounds
96056

2007-05-09
Crude ship MT Fortius moored at Marathon's Dock 1
Cause: The crude ship is believed to have been venting at the time of the release

Followup: No

Notes: MPC requested a copy of the shp's inert gas pressure system readings for the cargo tanks and the request was refused by the ship's representative. DEQ's field interview form for this incident tells a different story - it was a leak in the Ballast Water Line.
Low sulfur diesel: 78.0 gallons
95890

2007-05-03
abandoned pipe in Tank Farm
Cause: Abandoned pipe that was once used for circulating crude oil.

Followup: No

Notes: Severe weather for 2 days delayed clean up efforts.
Oil: 70.0 gallons
95890A

2007-05-03
abandoned pipe in Tank Farm
Cause: Abandoned pipe that was once used for circulating crude oil.

Followup: No

Notes: Severe weather for 2 days delayed clean up efforts.
Oil: 70.0 gallons
95719

2007-04-27
Ballast Water Line at Dock 1
Cause: Untreated process water in the line is routed back to the refinery for treatment at the wastewater treatment plant. Leak allowed discharge into the Mississippi River

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ. Analysis results of water sample showed 7ppm total suspended solids; 26.3 ppm oil and grease; 164.4 ppm Total Organic Carbon and 26,100 ug/l of BTEX
Process Water: 8.5 pounds
93826

2007-02-08
Gas Oil Hydrotreating Unit
Cause: While the unit was starting up, a crack was noticed. Cause of crack is under investigation.

Followup:

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ. No Information Given
Sulfur Dioxide: 62.0 pounds
Compressed Flammable Gas: 834.0 pounds
108131

2008-08-18
Fuel gas line
Cause: Leaking fuel gas line near boiler.

Followup: No

Notes: DEQ report and verbal report indicate that it is a courtesy notification. Boiler was shut down and piping replaced.
Flammable Gas: 15.0 pounds
108044

2008-08-14
Piperack at Unit 14
Cause: Inlet flange on a relief valve leaked to the atmosphere.

Followup: No

Notes: A relief valve was blocked to isolate leak
Volatile Organic Compounds: 22.0 pounds
107208

2008-07-15
FCCU Tubing
Cause: Tubing from a flow orifice plate broke off and released LPG.

Followup: No

Notes: Unit start-up was aborted, all fired sources were extinguished and a fire monitor was opened.
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs): 1,440.2 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 4,199.7 pounds




Compressed Flammable Gas: 4,199.7 pounds
105748

2008-05-20
Unit 63 piperack Hydrogen line
Cause: A pinhole leak was discovered in the H2 piping in the Unit 63 pipeway near Unit 19.

Followup:

Notes: Blocked in line and depressurized to atmosphere.
Hydrogen: 16.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds: 21.0 pounds
105380

2008-05-05
South Flare (EQT 160 / EIQ 69-74)
Cause: Pinhole leak discovered in overhead propane line in Unit 22. Line was depressurized to flare.

Followup:

Notes: Blocked in line and depressured to South Flare. Incident under investigation.
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs): 0.8 pounds
Propane: 167.0 pounds
Ethane: 0.6 pounds
Nitrogen: 34.1 pounds
Carbon Monoxide: 185.7 pounds
105287

2008-05-01
Delayed Coker Unit Heavy Slop Oil Line
Cause: An HSO leak and small fire occurred.

Followup: No

Notes: Small fire immediately put out. Air Monitoring Team dispatched to monitor the fence line. Operational moves were made to minimize the leak and block the line for maintenance
Slop Oil: 30.0 gallons
104869

2008-04-18
Flange on Asphaltene Pumparound Exchanger, 07-1312
Cause: Change in temperature following flushing caused metal to contract and flange to leak. Small fire started.

Followup:

Notes: Small fire immediately put out. Air Monitoring Team dispatched to monitor the fence line. Maintenance called out to build a scaffold in order to hot bolt the exchanger. Steam lances put on the flanges to heat the metal and seal the leak.
Volatile Organic Compounds: 172.0 pounds
104037

2008-03-19
Unit 27 Slop Oil Line
Cause: A slop oil line developed a leak.

Followup: No

Notes: Vacuum trucks brought in to extract as much slop oil from the ground as possible. All remaining stained soil was placed in a drum for disposal. Booms were placed in the ditch to contain the spill, which was then vacuumed. Any remaining slop oil was absorbed by the booms.
Slop Oil: 30.0 gallons
104020

2008-03-18
Alky Cooling Tower (EIQ 61-74; EQT 0043)
Cause: A pinhole leak occurred in the acid cooler exchanger tube which was promptly isolated.

Followup:

Notes: Caustic soda ash and sodium bicarbonate was applied to the cooling tower to neutralize the acid and adjust the pH.

103950

2008-03-14
North Flare (EQT162 / EIQ 83-70)
)
Cause: A drain valve plugged causing the Fractionator in the Coker Unit to overpressure. This caused the Unit's compressor suction drum to relieve to the North Flare

Followup: No

Notes: Operations manually closed the first-stage spillback on the compressor which limited the flaring event.
Sulfur Dioxide: 2,206.0 pounds

115506

2009-06-06
unit 15
Cause: Pin hole leak in he unit 15 HGO hot separator overhead fin fan.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Reportable quantities were no exceeded so no information was given. Letter from the refinery not available.

114098

2009-04-10
tank-500-8
Cause: a leak was found in tank-500-8 de-watering line.

Followup: No

Notes: line was isolated and the site cleaned up.
Oil: 35.7 pounds
127437

2010-11-02
TANK - Tank 237-1905
Cause: The three inch chemical hose that connects two tanks had torn away from the valve at the east tank.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ. Refinery letter states that the reportable quantity for sodium hypochlorite was exceeded. The tank valves were closed to stop the leak and storm covers were used to stop the leak to the Storm Water Sewer at the northeast corner of the cooling towers. A precautionary sewer cover was put on a drain about 30 feet away to the west. A vacuum was used to remove bleach from the containment dike and surrounding area, and the outfall ditch (012) valves west of Warehouse M at Marathon Ave were closed; roads around the cooling tower were barricaded.
Sodium Hydrochlorite: 4,965.0 pounds
122736

2010-04-13
Main Fractionator relief valve inlet
Cause: "A small pinhole leak was noticed on the Main Fractionator relief valve inlet piping between the tower and a block valve in the HF Alkylation Unit."

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded, but detailed emissions report included. The installation of a temporary clamp was attempted, but when the leak could not be secured, the unit was shut down to repair the leak [welded]."
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 55.4 pounds
122518

2010-04-01
No Information Given
Cause: "Pinhole leak on pipeline inside facility...liquified petroleum gas..." No further details.

Followup: No

Notes: No information given. LDEQ report only. No refinery letter.

121884

2010-03-03
Gas pipe in Unit 43 Fuel Gas System
Cause: Condensate gas was leaking through a pin hole in a piping nipple in the Unit 43 Fuel Gas System. Gas was released to air.

Followup:

Notes: BRQ. Report states the line was isolated and the line depressurized so that leak could be repaired. This spill did not reach a reportable quantity. A clamp was installed around the pipe nipple to prevent future release at the site. Original report identifies release as compressed flammable gas. Later reports break down release into - HRVOCs, VOCs, Ethane, Methane, and H2.
Compressed Flammable Gas: 212.6 pounds
Methane: 115.3 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 50.6 pounds
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs): 17.2 pounds
Ethane: 13.9 pounds
131650

2011-06-04
Unit 222 Plant feed line
Cause: LDEQ report states Unit 222 Gas Plant feed line developed leak. Caused was cracked pipe.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ. Cracked pipe was replaced. State Police report indicates that the compressed flammable gas contained butane, methane, and propane. LDEQ and SPOC report only. No refinery letter included.
Compressed Flammable Gas: 1,314.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide: 12.0 pounds
129605

2011-03-02
Drain Line
Cause: Diesel was shown to be leaking from a 4 inch line.

Followup: No

Notes: The line was evaluated and pressured tested; the line shows no further signs of leakage. The area around the spillage was excavated. The contaminated soil was placed in a roll-off box for proper disposal. LDEQ included. No Refinery Letter.
Diesel Fuel: 12.0 gallons
145377

2012-12-15
South Flare
Unit 59 South Flare
Cause: A tube leaked on the Unit 15 Hot Separator Overhead Fin Fans at 17:52 hours. At 18:00, the unit was undergoing emergency shutdown procedures and the U15 dump valve was opened to the flare. The incident was a Gas Oil leak in the Unit 15 Hot separator Overhead Fin Fan Exchangers. This leak caused a vapor release of hydrocarbons and hydrogen in addition to a small amount of hydrogen sulfide.

Followup: Yes

Notes: PDF was too large to upload. Unit 15 was depressurized to the South Flare to safely isolate the leaking Overhead Fin Fan. Once the unit pressure was sufficiently low in the unit, the Fin Fans were isolated and the leak stopped. An incident investigation will result in recommendations to prevent recurrence. The reportable quantities for hydrogen sulfide, compressed flammable gas, and compressed flammable liquid were exceeded during this event. A report on October 9, 2013, removed greenhouse gas emissions and revised the estimate of VOC emissions.

Nitrous Oxide: 7.5 pounds
Compressed Flammable Gas: 1,335.8 pounds
Nitrogen Oxide: 385.0 pounds
Carbon Monoxide: 2,095.0 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide: 121.8 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 1,573.5 pounds
Particulate Matter 10: 42.2 pounds
Particulate Matter 2.5: 42.2 pounds
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs): 9.9 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide: 395.0 pounds
Methane: 893.6 pounds
Ethane: 6.0 pounds
Ethylene: 839.8 pounds
Propane: 3.9 pounds
Propylene: 3.9 pounds
n-Butane: 264.5 pounds
Isobutane: 264.5 pounds
n-Pentane: 2.1 pounds
T-butene2: 2.8 pounds
cis-2-Butene: 166.6 pounds
Pentene Plus: 5,674.2 pounds
Carbon Dioxide: 5,660.0 pounds
Hydrogen: 1,255.4 pounds
Nitrogen: 125.7 pounds
Oxygen: 5.9 pounds
Compressed Flammable Liquid: 10.6 pounds
Isopentane: 6.3 pounds
n-Hexane: 952.4 pounds
Ammonia: 7.5 pounds
136998

2012-02-06

Cause: On February 6, 2012, a pipe failed at the Unit 215 Hydrocracker Franctionator Top Pumparound circuit that resulted in a release and flaring event. The pressure safety valve on the U15 Fractionator Top Pumparound Pump opened prematurely due to debris in the pipe. The vibration from the psv relief caused a failure at a weld on the discharge line from the pump. Heavy naphtha was released for approximately 10 minutes. The root cause was identified as Work Direction/Supervision During Work - No Supervision with the following causal factors 1) lack of weld fusion and penetration and 2) improper pipe fitting used during construction.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Claims an initial report was submitted on February 13, 2012 that details the events and pollutants released during this incident, though LABB does not have this document at this time. The pump was shutdown immediately to minimize and stop the leaking from the discharge piping on the Fractionator Top Pumparound Pump. The refinery's Shift Emergency Response Team was dispatched to the unit to mitigate the release. Firewater monitors were used to knock down the liquid and vapors to prevent a fire. The recommendation (action) from the root cause investigation was to notify the third-party of the conditions of the incident to provide them with the opportunity to investigate and improve their QA/QC.
Naptha (Crude): 847.0 pounds
136661

2012-01-24
Truck Loading Rack Flare Knock Out Drum Pump-out Line
Cause: There was a release of gas oil from two leaks on a pipe rack west of the cat unit cooling towers. These pipes are part of the Truck Loading Rack Flare Knock Out Drum Pump-out Line. The leak was from the pipe rack west of the cat unit cooling towers, and it was releasing to the ground.

Followup:

Notes: The spill was contained onsite. Vacuum trucks were on the site and in operation. Booms and absorbent pads were being laid out, and the baffle pond was closed to prevent offsite release.

136618

2012-01-20
Upper level of Coker Unit
Cause: A tube had a circumferential crack that propagated halfway around one tube in the Distillate Product Fin Fan, 205-1351. Unit 205 GME Delayed Coker (FUG 0053).

Followup: No

Notes: The unit was shutdown to minimize and stop the leak. Water monitors were aimed at the leak to suppress vapors. Air monitoring occurred. A vacuum truck, boom, and absorbent pads were used to remove light sheen found in the rain water ditch on the east side of Marathon Avenue adjacent to the unit.
Distillate: 3,081.3 pounds
150862

2013-09-07
Unit 222 Liquid feed pump (222-1501-02)
Cause: The emission point involved was a pinhole leak on the pump casing of 222-1501-02. Sour LPG leaked to the atmosphere causing the unit fixed monitor 222-AI-0019 to go in and out of alarm. Operators donned SCBA's to investigate and discovered a leak in the weld for the seal flush piping at the pump casing of 222-1501-02. The 222-1505-02 Liguid Feed Pump was out of service, leaving no spare. Emergency Shutdown of Unit 222 Sats Gas Plant (SGP) was activated.

Followup: No

Notes: Unit 222 Sats Gas Plant was shutdown when the emergency shutdown EIV-1 was closed from a remote location by the Shift Emergency Response Team (SERT). The pump was kept on until all liquid could be diverted to Unit 222 (Sats Gas Plant). The pump was then isolated for maintenance. Once the investigation is complete, recommendations will be implemented.
Compressed Flammable Gas: 98.8 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide: 1.8 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 96.6 pounds
149432

2013-06-29
leak from process line in U263 piperack
Cause: On June 29, a pinhole leak was discovered in the LPG feedline from U212 to U222.

Followup: No

Notes: The line was purged with nitrogen and isolated for repairs. The Shift Emergency Response Team was activated and fire monitors were put on the leak to suppress any vapors. Reduced the U212 charge rate to minimize the leak. The line was isolated at battery limits in U222 and U212 to stop the leak. Once the investigation is complete, recommendations will be implemented.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 839.1 pounds
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs): 2.4 pounds
Compressed Flammable Gas: 840.2 pounds
Methane: 0.1 pounds
Ethane: 0.2 pounds
Propane: 0.2 pounds
n-Butane: 0.1 pounds
Isobutane: 0.1 pounds
Pentane: 0.9 pounds
n-Pentane: 0.1 pounds
Isopentane: 0.1 pounds
Pentene Plus: 3.5 pounds
Cyclohexane: 0.8 pounds
n-Hexane: 1.7 pounds
Benzene: 0.5 pounds
Toluene: 0.3 pounds
Xylene: 0.3 pounds
Hydrogen: 0.5 pounds
148554

2013-05-06
Tank Farm, Tank 300-5 pump, FUG-0084 (Unit 63 Fugitives)
Cause: Incident at the refinery's tank farm which resulted in a spill of asphalt. On May 6, the asphalt pump 63-1539-02 was started to put Tank 300-5 on tank circulation. An hour and a half later, the operator noticed asphalt spraying from a cracked 3/4" relief valve inlet line. The definition of oil provided in LAC 33:1.3905 states that an oil is "any of numerous smooth, greasy, combustible hydrocarbons that are liquid or at least liquefiable on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, including but not limited to crude oil, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuge, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredge spoil." Asphalt is not a combustible liquid and requires high temperatures to become a liquid; therefore, asphalt does not meet this definition of an oil. Therefore no reportable quantities were exceeded during this event.

Followup: No

Notes: Immediate remedial action was to shut down the asphalt pump as soon as the spill was discovered. Once investigation is complete, recommendations to prevent recurrence will be implemented. No reportable quantities were exceeded because asphalt does not meet any of the conditions to be defined as an oil. The definition of oil provided in LAC 33:I:3905 states that an oil is "any of numerous smooth, greasy, combustible hydrocarbons that are liquid or at least liquefiable on warming, are soluble in ether but not in water, including but not limited to crude oil, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredge soil." Asphalt is not a combustible liquid and requires high temperatures to become a liquid.
Asphalt: 2,982.0 gallons