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CITGO Petroleum (1250), Lake Charles

Releases of Propane

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date		 Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
90692

2006-09-18		Heat Exchanger C-113 at the Alkylation Unit
Cause: small hole on the shell of the Heat Exchanger at the Alkylation Unit

Followup: No Information Provided

Notes: No Information Given
101177

2007-11-20		Cooling Towers 1 and 2
Cause: tube leak in E-12 overhead condenser, C-175D at the C-4 Recovery Un

Followup: No

Notes: The backpressure controller set point was changed from 217 to 210 PSIG. The alarm settings will be changed to a lower setting to prevent Operations from running the tower at such an elevated pressure.
100067

2007-10-09		E-12 overhead condenser, C-175D, at the C-4 Recovery Unit
Cause: see notes

Followup: No

Notes: leak in the E-12 overhead condenser, C-175D, at the C-4 Recovery Unit causes emission. No cause given for lea
97516

2007-06-29		Propane (C3) Mix Line at C-4 Recovery Unit
Cause: internal corrosion of pipe results in 3/32 of an inch diameter leak

Followup: No

Notes: Huge excess of RQ; Pipe was replaced		18,210.0 pounds
106398

2008-06-12		Cooling Towers 1 and 2
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: COMMON INCIDENT: see also 104519, 104069, 104696, 106057, 106241; C-175/D Heat Exchanger Bundle Leak at C4 Recovery Uni
106241

2008-06-06		Cooling Towers 1 and 2
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: COMMON INCIDENT: see also 104519, 104069, 104696, 106057; C-175/D Heat Exchanger Bundle Leak at C4 Recovery Unit; tubing isolated for repa
106057

2008-06-02		Cooling Towers 1 and 2
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: COMMON INCIDENT: see also 104519 and 104069 and 104696; C-175/D Heat Exchanger Bundle Leak at C4 Recovery Unit; tubing isolated for repair
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.
112841

2009-02-18		B-8 Flare in C4 unit
Cause: Release of Sour Gas from B-8 flare due to the lifting of a pressure valve in the C4 Recovery unit at the CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex where the E10 tower was lifted and reset itself.

Followup:

Notes: C4 unit at the E10 tower reset itself. Material was discharged into surrounding area air.
125324

2010-08-02		F16 propane salt dryer
Cause: 3/4 " pipe nipple broke that was used to bleed down the line. SECONDARY CAUSE: Maintenance because a employee was taking the "control valve" out of service at the same time on the F16 propane salt dryer.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded. LDEQ report states, "an unknown amount of propane was released until the line was isolated and [depressurized]. A new nipple was installed after the line had bled down." Air monitoring was also performed but no readings were indicated.
129038

2011-02-04		FLARE: B-4 Flare
Cause: State police report states that the pilot flame of the of the B-4 Flare went out. Propane was emitted.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. The pilot flame was re-lit. Refinery letter and SPOC report only. No LDEQ report.
140064

2012-05-21		Tank #187 (spent caustic)
Cause: There was a faulty seal on the floating roof of Tank #187, causing it to release a mixture of caustic and propanes.

Followup: No

Notes: No Information Given		3,150.0 pounds
149504

2013-07-02		Tank 182
Cause: On July 7 at approximately 9:35 PM, a blowdown of the girbotol unit to Tank 182 caused a release of propane (C3 mix) to the air from Tank 182.

Followup: Yes

Notes: System was secured after discovery of release. No specific information given on remedial actions. A review of operating data from event showed no RQs exceeded.