LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

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Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

Causal Factor: Power Failure

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source(s)	Notes	Amount of Release
144564 2012-11-13	Flare 1-4, TGTU-1,3,4 Incinerator, HTU-1 HSR Reboiler, Boiler #1, Boiler #2, Boiler (EQT0037) Flare 1-4, TGTU- 1,2,3,5 Incinerator, Flare 1-4	Cause: This incident involved an upset of the refinery due to a loss of power to the site from our energy supplier's system. Several operating units were affected by the power loss which caused emissions of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the release and combustion of hydrocarbons at the Motiva Enterprises LLC (Motiva) - Convent Refinery. Followup: Yes Notes: Immediately, the operating units were stabilized to reduce the impact from the emissions. Several operating units were shutdown and remaining online units followed the emergency procedure for steam load shedding to minimize emissions. Exceeded the 500-pound (lb) reportable quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). SO2 maximum lb/hr emission limits were exceeded at Tail Gas Treating Units 1, 3, and 4, the Flare CAP, and at combustion devices (i.e. heaters) burning refinery fuel gas. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) maximum lb/hr emission rates were exceeded at Tail Gas Treating Units 1, 2, 3, and 5, and at the Flare CAP. The maximum lb/hr emission rates of NOx, CO, VOC, and PM were experienced at the Flare CAP. Lastly, the maximum opacity limit as required by LAC 33:III.1101.B for SRU No. 4 TGTU Incinerator Stack was also exceeded at the time of the incident.	Sulfur Dioxide: 34,788.2 pounds Nitrogen Oxide: 205.2 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide: 115.2 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 422.4 pounds Particulate Matter: 22.6 pounds Carbon Monoxide: 1,116.2 pounds
137221 2012-02-16	FLARE: Unspecified flare	Cause: There was a power interruption of two SRUs (#3 &4) causing a release of acid gas into the tail gas treating units and recovery unit which flared. Opacity limit in SRU #4 was exceeded for the permit. SO2 and H2S RQ were surpassed by lbs/hr on Refinery flare #3. Followup: No Notes: Air monitoring in the area detected no acid gas during the start up of the unit and values below action levels near the incinerator. All acid gas was out of the recovery system. The file is missing the incident report from the refinery.	Sulfur Dioxide: 38,648.0 pounds
148737 2013-05-16	Flare system, fluidized catalytic cracking unit wet gas scrubber stack, and process heaters	Cause: On May 16 at approximately 7:20 AM, a bird struck the Alkylation Unit's electric power feeder and caused a power trip shutdown to the Alky/Pressure area as well as a power dip on the West Side of the refinery. The event resulted in flaring and also initiated steam load shedding, which resulted in a heater trip on Vacuum Pipe Still No. 1. Caustic charge to the FCCU WGS was momentarily lost due to the power dip, which may have resulted in permitted emissions limitation exceedances. Followup: Yes Notes: Immediate action to correct upset condition and all reasonable steps to limit excess emissions taken. Process upset resulted in flaring. No other specific remedial actions given. Motiva initially reported a potential sulfur dioxide exceedance, but after further calculations the total sulfur dioxide emissions were BRQ.