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CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles
Releases of Benzene
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 84791 2005-12-23 | B-Topper Unit B-7 Flare | Cause: Piping leak at the B-Topper Unit. Due to the temperature of the naphtha steam and the elevation of the line relative to the ground, the leaking material evaporated and did not reach the ground. Followup: Yes Notes: Original letter states that the phone call to report this incident occurred on December 24, 2005, while the follow up letter states the incident occurred on December 23, 2005 at 23:45 hours. Claims all pollutants were released as liquids but vaporized before reaching the ground. Heavy naphtha release was below reportable quantities. The pumparound piping from which the leak was coming was shutdown and isolated for repair when the Unit was shutdown. A Failure Analysis was scheduled for this incident. Second attached letter states that upon re-start up of the B-Unit Topper on December 29, H2S and SO2 were possibly released but below reportable quantities | 15.0 |
| 82097 2005-09-11 | B-5 FLARE | Cause: Overpressure of the E-402 Depentanizer Tower at B-Reformer unit. Followup: No Notes: Claims emission was below RQ initially. | Uncombusted |
| 80796 2005-07-26 | B-9 Flare | Cause: light ends over-pressurizing in Sulfolane Unit Followup: No Notes: Claims emission was below RQ | |
| 88679 2006-06-19 | B-12 flare, wastewater treatment plant | Cause: Refinery experienced a heavy rainfall event, greater than 8 inches;of rain in 36 hours. 250 psig steam lines became submerged in water and as a result the steam condensed and caused a drop in pressure, eventually stopping the flow of rich amine throughthe Central Amine unit. This resulted in the loss of acid gas production. The SROs eventually shutdown due to lack of feed. Off gas went to the B-12 flare. Rainfall runoff exceeded the available capacity of the wastewater treatment system storm water tanks and the treatment system. When the capacity of the storm water tanks was exceeded, slop oil and wastewater overflowed from the tanks into the protective dike area surrounding the tanks allowing evaporation of benzene, etc. Followup: Yes Notes: The lack of amine treatment of refinery fuel gas caused the hydrogen sulfide content in fuel gas to exceed permit limits Hydrogen Sulfide amounts exceeded not reportedÉTo increase the pressure of the steam system and to reuce hydrogen sulfide generation, emergency steam and hydrogen sulfide shedding steps were initiated. Several units feed rates were reduced to minimum and some were shut down. As soon as acid gas was available steps were taken to restart the SRUs. For each restart operations pnnel followed standard operations procedures for startup and shutdown. When the storm water tanks began to overflow, steps were taken to remove slop oil from the tank dike using vacuum dikes. The feed rte of wastewater from the wastewater tanks to | 7,863.0 pounds |
| 06-BB006-910 2006-01-05 | B-Topper Unit | Cause: During B Topper Unit restart after repairs, the heavy naphtha reflux piping was found to be ope Followup: No Notes: Bleeder valve was closed. Failure Analysis underway. | 156.0 pounds |
| 101823 2007-12-19 | Cooling Tower 4 | Cause: ruptured tube suspected as source of leak Followup: No Notes: Hydrocarbon leak in the c-711 Stabilizer Trim Condenser at the Isomerization Unit is cause of emissions. | |
| 100602 2007-10-29 | Cooling Towers 5 and 6 | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: Release results from hydrocarbon leak in the c-14 steam preheater at the Straight Run Fractionation Unit | |
| 98865 2007-08-23 | Tank 145 | Cause: See notes Followup: No Notes: Check valve stuck open at the A Reformer charge pump causes reverse flow of hydrogen into tank causing it to upset. | 20.0 pounds |
| 98773 2007-08-18 | Sulfolane Unit | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: Emission results from control valve packing leak at the Sulfolane Unit | |
| 98523 2007-08-09 | Cooling Tower 5 | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: leak at E3 Debutanizer Tower C-07 Reboiler at Straight Run Unit causes emissiong from Cooling Tower 5 | |
| 98497 2007-08-08 | Tank 85 | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: Leak discovered @ Reformate Tank 85 coming from 2 small holes immediately above the wind stiffener ring at the 36.5 foot level; Verbal report indicates failure of gauging system contributed to late detection of leak. REMEDIAL ACTION: A new safe operating fill height has been established below prior level. Tank 85 will be replaced. High level alarm has been lowered to prevent recurrence. | 21.0 pounds |
| 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 | |
| 94479 2007-03-09 | JP244B pump B-9 Flare | Cause: JP244 B pump seal leaked to the flare drum Followup: No Notes: | |
| 111417 2008-12-14 | Tank 190 | Cause: Tank 190 high level alarm was improperly set Followup: Yes Notes: CITGO letter states that RQ for Benzene may have been exceeded; Alarm was was changed to provide proper indication of high level. Root cause analysis initiated. | 92,578.0 pounds |
| 108148 2008-08-19 | B Reformer C 402B Fin Fan | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: Leak in the Fin Fan causes release | |
| 107212 2008-07-15 | Sulften Vent EQT297 ; Tail Gas II Stack EQT 298 | Cause: Followup: No Notes: Some pollutants released onto Highway, which was sealed off during clean up. 5.5 inches of rain in a 3 hour period led to depressurization in process units and various instrumentation problems; event met or approached the 25-year 3-hour intensity standard; Install three additional sumps, pumps, and associated piping in the steam trench to alleviate flooding during heavy ra | 93.0 pounds |
| 105850 2008-05-22 | B-Reformer's C-408 Fin Fan Cooker | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: Leak in the Fin Fan Cooker causes release | |
| 104698 2008-04-11 | K-16 Area | Cause: see notes Followup: Yes Notes: Reformate was released into a pit due to a faulty dresser coupling. The bolts in the coupling released. Dresser coupling replaced with hard piping. | 1,490.0 pounds |
| 103986 2008-03-15 | Oily Water Sewer | Cause: see notes Followup: No Notes: Oily Water Sewer backs up in the Treating Plant Unit | |
| 103210 2008-02-19 | Tank 197 Run Down Line | Cause: 6 inch line inside the plant was leaking during maintenace of the Tank 197 run down line Followup: No Notes: CITGO letter states that the emissions were BRQ but DEQ report indicates that the amount has yet to be determined | |
| 116326 2009-07-08 | Benzene transfer pipeline | Cause: Leak was discovered in the Benzene Transfer line. Leak was due to corrosion. Followup: No Notes: Line was clamped and emptied. Damaged section will be replaced. | 119.0 pounds |
| 114984 2009-05-15 | Tank 36 | Cause: Oil was leaking from the bottom of tank 36. source of leak was the drain line, which drains water from the external floating roof, and runs internal the tank. The line developed a leak and was losing oil. Followup: No Notes: Drain line closed, and clean-up initiated. | 278.0 pounds |
| 127831 2010-11-24 | C414 heat exchanger | Cause: Pinhole leak on B-reformer in product cooler in heat exchanger. Followup: Yes Notes: no information given | |
| No LDEQ Reported 2010-01-12 | No information given | Cause: "...release of Benzene associated with a flange leak in the oil movement area" Below reportable quantities Followup: No Notes: BRQ. Below Reportable quantities. No LDEQ report or number listed. Refinery Letter only. | |
| 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. | 59.0 pounds |
| 140013 2012-05-25 | A unit bonnet gasket on a pipeline | Cause: The spill resulted from a leaking pipeline bonnet gasket at "B" Dock, which is in oil movement A unit. Followup: No Notes: The area of the spill (10 cubic yards) was excavated and placed into a roll-off box that was sent to CWM for lab testing to profile and ship for disposal. | 1.3 gallons |
| 136963 2012-02-03 | K-19 line leak | Cause: K-19 line leak. A dresser coupling failed and leaked 1 barrel of finished gasoline. Coupler between piping for a barrel. This is a seal between piping and vessel. Followup: No Notes: The materials were contained in a concrete area. The line was isolates, foam was added, and the line was repaired. Planning to replace it with a hard line. The RQs for Flammable Gas and VOCs were exceeded. | 0.7 pounds |
| 152862 2013-12-15 | Oil movement B reformate line | Cause: A release of reformate and benzene to the soil due to a leak on a blend line.
The line was 14 diameter and was being excavated to locate the leak location. Followup: No Notes: The leak was excavated and contaminated soils removed for disposal | |
| 152225 2013-11-07 | Furnace Tube | Cause: A fire occurred on the A-Reformer combination furnace during startup. Preliminary indication is that a furnace tube, located in the convective section, developed a leak which resulted in a fire. Followup: No Notes: | 10.3 pounds |
| 151352 2013-09-21 | Wastewater treatment unit | Cause: This incident involved a Benzene release associated with wastewater diversion CITGO's wastewater treatment plant. This wastewater diversion occurred as a result of a flash flood heavy rain event. CITGO diverted the wastewater into a concrete diked containment area surrounding the wastewater tanks. According to CITGO, the wastewater diversion was necessary to avoid overfilling of stormwater and equalization tanks.
One of the WWTP Equalization Tanks (TK 310) had been out of service for inspection/maintenance going into the subject rainfall event. Followup: No Notes: Wastewater processing rates were maximized and material diverted to diked area was pumped to controlled storage as tankage became available. CITGO will be constructing a fourth wastewater storage tank as well as an additional API separator and aeration tank. | 33.0 pounds |
| 147293 2013-03-12 | Distillate line near B-Reformer unit | Cause: On March 12, 2013, a leak was discovered on a distillate pipe, in the pipe rack east of the B-Reformer unit. It is believed that the leak was caused by internal corrosion of the distillate line. The event is currently under investigation. Followup: No Notes: Equipment which utilize the line were either shutdown or operated in such a way as to minimize the amount of material entering this line. Once minimized, the affected area of pipe was isolated and replaced with new piping. The affected area of piping has been changed out with new piping. In addition, this incident is under investigation. | 59.0 pounds |
| 156037 2014-05-18 | Tank 143, EQT 0130, Logistics Area | Cause: Citgo reported a naphtha release from Tank 143 (A 23,500 barrel feed tank for the A Reformer Unit). The real ease began when there was a reverse flow of hydrogen (caused by an unexpected shut down of the A reformer feed pumps) into the tank from the A Reformer Unit. This reverse flow caused the level in the tank to increase rapidly, lifting the roof and damaging the floating roof seal, allowing product to drain off the roof and into the tank dike area. Fence line monitoring, conducted during the incident reported no readings of a volatile compound. As a effort to reduce VOC emissions, foam was applied to the product during the night. In a letter dated 5/23/14 Citgo requested additional time to provide release calculations for the incident. According to the report the LDEQ quants for flammable liquid and benzene from volatilization were exceeded. 53 barrels of Heavy Naptha Mixture were released from the tank and contacted the ground. Approximately 37.5 barrels were recovered and the balance evaporated. 50 pounds of Benzene a naphtha constituent released from evaporation. Followup: Yes Notes: As a corrective action the flow line was immediately blocked in, foam was applied to the spill area, and all liquid/contaiinated soil was removed and disposed of according the state regulations. | 4.1 pounds |
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