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Phillips 66 (2418), Belle Chasse

Releases of Hydrocarbon

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
No LDEQ Reported

2005-07-29
308F-D-1 Low pressure flare
Cause: The liquid/gas pressure relay on transformer XFR 5CE at electrical substation 5C unexpectedly tripped breaker VCB 3CG.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Claimed preventative maintenance could have been used, but the failure was unforeseeable. The level of SO2 exceeded that of a reportable level.
215.3 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2005-07-25
Low Pressure Flare
Cause: A contractor came into contact with the instrument air supply line for the FCC Unit's K-2A Supplemental compressor. This caused the lines to separate and for air to leak.

Followup: No information given

Notes: It was immediately repaired and they claimed to go over similar air supplies.
119.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2005-05-10
(308F-D-1) Low Pressure Flare; (308F-D-2) High Pressure Flare; (301-D-3) CO Bypass Stack; (591-D-21X) SRU Incinerator
Cause: Entergy experienced a ground fault and the backup supply failed to switch in a timely manner. Forced most process units to shutdown resulting in flaring and venting of CO. Two pressure valves relieved to the atmosphere.

Followup: No

Notes: With most of the process units down, there was isufficient feed to keep the SRU tail gas treater online. The tail gas from SRU 591 was routed directly to the SRU incinerator until other refinery process units restarted to provide sufficient feed to support stable TGT operation. There was some smoking form the flares.
17,590.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2005-03-31
100-PSV-5B on 100-T-205
Cause: The pressure transmitter malfunctioned and showed no further increase as the level of the sphere increased.

Followup: No information given

Notes: None
320.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2005-02-28
Off site gasoline bulk tank
Cause: Operator did not block in bulk tank gasoline fill valve and gasoline spilled out of bulk tank because of this

Followup: Yes

Notes: It was above the air quality limit of no more than one barrel of hydrocarbon spilled in the ground. It is still under investigation. In the clean up they took 15 barrels of hydrocarbon and satnding water.
210.0 gallons
No LDEQ Reported

2005-01-23
301-D-3 FCC Generator Flue Gas Bypass Stack;308F-D-2 High pressure flare
Cause: FCC regenerator flu gas expander, 1291-k-1 tripped offline due to a mechanical failure causing an emergency shutdown of the FCC Unit

Followup: Yes

Notes: They claimed preventative maintenance is possible, but just the regenerator failing was unforeseeable.
846.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-11-23
301-D-3 FCC Regenerator Flue Gas Bypass Stack; 308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare; 308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: The FCC process control system malfunctioned causing upset operating conditions at the FCC Unit. This malfunction caused an immediate and unecpected shutdown of the entire FCC Unit.

Followup: yes

Notes: According to the report: "Although preventative maintenance procedure exist, conditions of this type cannot be anticipated. An investigation is continuing to determine the root cause of this accident."
200.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-10-10
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: The water boot control valvve for the straight run debutanizer malfunctioned and at the same time the water boot level indicator malfunctioned and began transmitting false levels

Followup: No

Notes: Stabilized using the manual by-pass and a replacement control valve was ordered and hot shot shipped to the refinery. The replacement control valve was installed that same evening. The level indicator was checked, cleaned and placed back in service.
904.8 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-08-18

308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: The bottom recirculation pump for the HDS Hydrotreater Column tripped off line due to unexpected seal failure and sudden pressure surge within the column.

Followup: No

Notes: Executed all shutdown mechanisms for the Low Sulfur Gasoline Unit safely, stablized HDS Column product streams and isolated L3 pump. The Alkylation Unit operation was adjusted to the available cooling water supply and stop the flaring.
1,804.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-08-15
308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: During restart of Alkylation Unit a pressure surge triggered an automatic shutdown. Pressure safety valves relieved on 491V8.

Followup: No

Notes: Plant personnel stabilized unit operations to prepare AU 491 for restart
2,812.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-08-15
308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: An oil circuit breaker in the electrical substation supplying electricity to the Alkylation Unit and its cooling tower failed. This power interruption caused a loss of cooling water and tripped several pumps offline.

Followup: No

Notes: Plant personnel stabilized the unit to prepare AU 491 for restart.
7,898.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-08-09
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: During Coke Drum switch the actuator on isolation valve XV627 malfunctioned which in turn caused the compressor kickback valve to open.

Followup: No

Notes: Coker unit operations and pressures were stabilized and the valve to the flare was closed.
241.9 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-07-18
308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: Low flare vapor traffic and a possible sudden release of high velocity steam may have snuffed out the HP flare flame at its tip.

Followup: No

Notes: Operations immediately blocked in the steam controllers and orifices to the High Pressure flare and added additional purchased fuel gas to the tip. The manual flame front generator was then reactivated to reignite the High Pressure Flare. The additional purchased gas was then blocked in and the steam controllers were ublocked to provide smokeless flaring capabilities.
9,813.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-07-08
308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: The Process Safety Valve relieved to the HP flare causing the Pressure Swing Absorption unit to trip off line.

Followup: No

Notes: The entire 1792 Unit including the PSA portion of the unit was shutdown to allow inspection of the hot spot in the heater.
25.1 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-06-19
308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: The Pressure Swing Adsorption Unit tripped off line due to leaking of the Repssure Safety Valve to the HP Flare System.

Followup: No

Notes: PSV was isolated from the unit. An investigation is continuing to determine the root cause of this accident.
848.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-06-12
308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause: The reflux pump 294L4B att he Low Sulfur Gasoline Unit experienced a seal failure.

Followup: No

Notes: The Low Sulfur Gasoline Unit was taken off line and shutdown.
378.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-06-07
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: Coke fine particles clogged downstream of the valve causing liquid levels in V16 to increase.

Followup: No

Notes: It seems these coke particles had accumulated failry quickly near the valve due to the manner in which the outlet valve had been operating over the past several drum switch cycles.
61.9 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-06-06
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: The level float column in the 1291 V 15 Sour Water Drum malfunctioned causing its level controller OLC 180 to open and caused a higher than normal rte of sour water and hydrocarban to inter the Sour Water Stripper Flash Drum v12.

Followup: No

Notes: The OLC 180 controller valve was manually closed and then re opened to establish a proper water level in the Sour Water Drum.
81.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-05-18
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: The 891-K-1 compressor tripped off line due to a faultry level indicator on the high level alaerm in the compressor interstage drum. There was foreign material collecting and plugging the level bridle on V-16.

Followup: No

Notes: The liquid levels in the interstage drum were drained manually and the circuit breaker for the compressor was reset and the compressor put back on line. A periodic flush of the V16 level bridle with fresh water is the corrective action.
152.7 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-04-26
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: Problems with the coke cutting system required a switch of drums which reduced the flow to the compressor and caused a compressor kickback valve to open to the flare.

Followup: No

Notes: Pressures were stabilized and the valve was closed.
159.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-04-19
293-PSV-4A
Cause: The 293-KN-1 compressor tripped due to a false high level alarm from the suction drum 293-V-5. The suction drum had had been drained by the unit operator but the local level alarm continued to show a high level signal to the compressor. Thie high level alarm indicator caused the compressor to trip unexpectedly. The compressor's turbine could not be reset immediately resulting in 293-PSV-4A lifting to the atmosphere for a short duration.

Followup: yes

Notes: None
9,123.3 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2006-03-19
Tankfield piping bleeder valve (412-FF)
Cause: A valve fell off of a pipe in a piperack in the tankfield. It is suspected that the valve may have been damaged by storm surge debris of Hurricane Katrina.

Followup: No

Notes: The line was isolated, a vacuum trick removed prioduct from ground and containment pool placed under leak. Line will be removed and replaced.
200.0 gallons
100206

2007-10-16
292-FF, 308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: Vapor leak coming from a tube at the exchanger. Unit 292 was depressurized and shut down which caused flaring.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Determined that preventative maintenance procedures could not prevent this accident.
399.0 pounds
99785

2007-09-27
308F-D1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: The Delayed Coking Unit was in hot circulation and preparing for startup after unexpectedly losing its coke cutting water pumps and its compressor (891 K-1) tripped off line due to high liquid level in the compressor suction drum 891-V-12, unexpectedly carried over to V-15. The compressor's suction stream is automatically diverted to the Low Pressure Flare during an emergency shutdown.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Investigation to determine the cause of liquid carryover from the Delayed Coking Unit combination tower overhead drum. The refinery claims that there was no offsite impact.
42.9 pounds
99023

2007-08-29
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare, 308F-D-2 High Pressure Flare
Cause:

Followup: Yes

Notes:
192.0 pounds
96490

2007-05-23
Carbon Monoxide Bypass Stack
Low Pressure Flare, High Pressure Flare, SRU incinerator Stack, 191-PV-105, Heaters
410-PSV-62
Induction gas relief valve (APC-105), Low Pressure Flare, High Pressure Flare
Low Pressure Flare (308F-D-1), High Pressure Flare, 191 APC-105
Low Pressure Flare, High Pressure Flare, 191-PV-105
Cause: During a rain storm the line from Entergy's substation tripped. The loss of power forced most of the refinery's process units to shutdown resulting in flaring. While shutting down the 191 crude unit the pressure controller relieved vapors and liquid hydrocarbons from a vent at the top of the Vacuum Tower. The hydrocarbons ignited and caused a fire at the top of the Vacuum Tower. With most of the process units down there was insufficient feed to keep the SRU tail gas treater online. The tail gas was routed to the SRU incinerator. When units were started up again they required more flaring for prepare for recommissioning.

Followup: No

Notes: Determined that although there are back up systems there are no ways to prepare for these types of power outages. Electrical department will preform preventative maintenance and replacement of components. 191-PV-105 pressure controller at the crude unit no longer vents to the atmosphere. Piping was installed that routes gases from this vent directly to the flare.
17,959.0 pounds
93785

2007-02-07
308-F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: A 34.5KV lightning arrestor failed at Entergy substation. An insulator also failed on the disconnect switch. The opening of these breakers caused the Coker Compressor to trip off line. The compressor's suction stems is automatically diverted tot he Low Pressure Flare.

Followup: No

Notes: Three arrestors and a failed insulator are being replaced.
79.9
94025

2007-02-07
FLARE - 308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
Cause: A 34.5KV lightning arrestor failed near breaker W5305 (Carlisle #1 Line Bus, and an insulator failed on the disconnect switch on the other side of breaker W5305 (ConocoPhillips # 2 Line Bus). ConocoPhillips Alliance breakers W5305, W5301, W5304 tripped along with Carlisle W6922 breaker. All of these de-energized ConocoPhillips #2 Line to the plant leading to the Coker Compressor to trip off the line. The compressors suction stream was automatically diverted to the Low Pressure Flare (308F-D-1) during the emergency shutdown of the compressor.

Followup: No

Notes: Three arrestors on breaker W3505 were replaced, as well as a failed insulator. Preventive measures are in place, but incidents of this type could not be anticipated by the prevention measures. A further investigation to discover the root cause of the malfunctions is ongoing.
79.9 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2008-11-27
191-FF
Cause: Fire

Followup: No Information Given

Notes: Fire on the insulation of thecrudeunit's vaccum tower. Residual hydrocarbon from a previous event on 11/19/1008 on the insulation caught on fire. Water spray used to put out fire by the Refinery Emergency Response fire brigade.
110898

2008-11-19
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare); 191-FF (191-PSV-009A); 191-FF (191-PSV-011)
Cause: On 11/19/09, the refinery "experienced an unexpected internal electrical power phase to ground fault." This fault caused a power interruption from internal Substation 5D to the Crude Unit 191 and resulted in the loss of most of the Crude Unit's pumps and several fin fans causing a major unit upset and emergency shutdown. These upset operations subsequently caused the Atmospheric Tower's pressure relief valve (191-PSV-009A) to open to protect the upper section of the Atmospheric Tower. An attempt to circulate the liquid inventory in the Vacuum Tower (VT) back to the Crude Tanks caused as unexpected high liquid level and the VT pressure relief valve (191-PSV-011) opened up to protect the upper section of the VT. This relief valve relieved vapors, liquid hydrocarbons, and crude oil from a vent at the top of the VT. The loss of the Crude Unit forced most of the refinery's process units to shutdown resulting in intermittent flaring. Following the shutdown and the re-establishment of power to substation 5D, the process of restarting several refinery units was initiated. The Coker Unit's Compressor (891-K-1) motor amp limit controller (PJC-404) unexpectedly opened the flare valve (PPC-998) due to a very high motor amperage surge at its initial start. Flares smoked intermittently throughout shutdown and startup events. Fenceline monitoring indicated "no offsite impact." Fenceline monitoring

Followup: No

Notes: Immediate: Units were shut down until electrical supply was repaired. After a formal investigation, the cause of the incident was determined to be a loose connection between the bus and runback rod that put enough electrical load on the connecting bolt to melt it thus creating the ground fault. Connecting bolts are now inspected and replaced as necessary, COP electricians are being further trained, and a QC checklist and testing procedures to verify proper electrical connections have been implemented. Discharge classified as "Extremely Hazardous Substance" Regulated by OSHA HazCom
150,428.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2008-09-16
Wastwater Collection System (EQT 088-308 WWTP)
Cause: Flooding caused by Hurricane Gustav caused oil from sewers to overflow to ground areas.

Followup: No

Notes: Oil spilled onto soil and vegetation in facility. Culverts leading to navigable waters were closed off and oil was confinded to ditch. Vaccum trucks picked up free oil in ditches and booms and spill pigs deployed to contain the oil.
336.0 gallons
119920

2009-12-08
308F-D-2 (High Pressure Flare)
Cause: The flame on 308F-D-2 (High-Pressure Flare) had extinguished due to wind and rain. Multiple attempts were made to relight the flame; including the use of the automatic igniter and hand held flare gun. The wind prevented these methods from working. A manual flare flame generator finally allowed for the flame to be reignited. During the flame out, 12,082 lbs of hydrocarbon and 2 lbs of Hydrogen Sulfide were released.

Followup: No

Notes: Operations immediately blocked in the steam controllers and orifices in the High Pressure Flame and added additional purchased fuel to the tip. The manual flame generator was finally used to reignite the High Pressure Flare. The additional purchased fuel gas was then blocked in and the steam controller were unblocked to provide smokeless flaring capabilities.
12,082.0 pounds
114566

2009-04-30
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare)
Cause: On April 30, 2009 at approximately 2:40 AM, the Coker compressor unexpectedly tripped off-line. At approximately 2:41 AM the suction drum flare valve opened, which it is designed to do when the compressor experiences an unexpected complete shutdown. The suction stream is automatically diverted to the Low Pressure Flare (308F-D-1) during an emergency shutdown.

Followup: No

Notes: The compressor was started and brought online following review of alarm and trip logs.
52.1
114066

2009-04-08
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare)
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 191-PSV-009
Cause: The 891-K-1 Compressor tripped off-line due to a high liquid level inside the first stage suction drum (891-V-15). This was caused by high liquid levels in the fractionator tower's reflux drum (891-V-12) due to coke fines plugging the filters of the L-11 reflux pumps and L-13 Sour Water pumps at an unexpectedly rapid rate. The compressor's suction steam is automatically diverted to the Low Pressure Flare (308F-D-1) during an emergency shutdown of the compressor. Monitoring at the refinery permitter was performed and "there was no offsite impact."

Followup: No

Notes: The compressor was started and brought online as soon as proper levels could be established in the first stage suction drum. An investigation is in process to determine the cause of the high levels in the first stage suction drum (which caused the compressor to trip).
49.0 pounds
113974

2009-04-06
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 191-PSV-009
Unit 191-PSV-009
Cause: A power failure occurred as a result of grid failure due to scheduled maintenance by Entergy. Entergy's method did not allow for ConocoPhillips to secure an alternative source while the main grid was down. The refinery thus had to initiate an emergency shutdown. As a result, the refinery had to employ the low pressure flare.

Followup: No

Notes: Entergy has proposed a three phase project that will build additional substations within the electrical power grid over the next five to eight years to improve its reliability. Entergy is currently seeking federal funding for this project.
504.7 pounds
113974

2009-04-06
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 191-PSV-009
Unit 191-PSV-009
Cause: A power failure occurred as a result of grid failure due to scheduled maintenance by Entergy. Entergy's method did not allow for ConocoPhillips to secure an alternative source while the main grid was down. The refinery thus had to initiate an emergency shutdown. As a result, the refinery had to employ the low pressure flare.

Followup: No

Notes: Entergy has proposed a three phase project that will build additional substations within the electrical power grid over the next five to eight years to improve its reliability. Entergy is currently seeking federal funding for this project.
58,184.0 pounds
113242

2009-03-08
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare)
Cause: Problems with the Coker drum steam condensate operations caused inadequate heating of the"inactive Coke drum. To avoid shutting down the Coker Unit, Operations personnel switched Coker feed from teh "active" drum into the "inactive" drum that was much cooler than normal operating systems. The switch into a cooler coke drum reduced the flow to the 891-K-1 compressor and caused the "compressor kickback" control scheme to activate. This scheme caused the compressor kickback valve to open, sending additional flow to the compressor's suction drum (891-V-15). The pressure in the compressor suction drum increased to the point that the pressure control system opened the valve to the Low PRessure Flare (308F-D-1).

Followup: No

Notes: Coker unit operations and pressure were stabilized and the valve to the flare was closed.
46.5 pounds
112738

2009-02-13
308F-D-1 (Low Pressure Flare); 1391-FF (1391-PSV-009); 301-D-3 (CO Bypass Vent)
Cause: During the startup of the FCC Unit following a 36 day refinery maintenance turnaround outage, the unit unexpectedly transitioned to partial-burn combustion in the catalyst regenerator for less than an hour before the bypass vent was closed. Shortly after starting up the Reformer Unit during a test of newly installed burners in heater 1391-H-4, a high concentration of very light material (hydrogen and propane) caused the Depentanizer tower's overhead pressure to rise, resulting in the PSV-009 to relive for approximately 3 minutes. This reduced the pressure and the PSV re-sealed properly. While starting up the Coker Unit, light material in its feed stream from the Crude Unit also caused an unexpected increase in pressure in the suction drum of the compressor which caused the flare valve at the suction drum to open into the low pressure flare. Compressor suction drum pressure was stabilized as feed quality to the Coker Unit improved and the flare valve was closed.

Followup: No

Notes: Operations has developed for its operators responsive drills for rapidly occurring unstable conditions which will eventually help minimize impact of emissions to the environment.
16,742.0 pounds
111891

2009-01-08
308F-D-1 Low Pressure Flare
308F-D-1 Low Pressure
Cause: A notification for the controlled shutdown of the entire plant was made on January 7, 2009. On January 8, the Sulfur Recovery Unit/Tail Gas Treater (SRU/TGT) was determined to have pluggage issue that precipitated the premature shutdown of the SRU/TGT. This led to flaring and SO2 emissions. The loss of the SRU/TGT required the initiation of a controlled shutdown of the remaining process units which contributed additional Sulfur Dioxide emissions.

Followup: No

Notes: An immediate shutdown was conducted of refinery process units. An investigation of the SRU upset is in progress and "will be reported in a subsequent letter."
48.0 pounds
123185

2010-05-02
Cooling water exchanger & Coker compressor (891-K-1), Low-pressure flare (308F-D-1)
Cause: Report states that the release occurred as a result of a breaker trip in the Coker Compressor. Which seems to have originated within the compressor's motor.

Followup: Yes

Notes: RQ. Reportable quantity for sulfur dioxide was exceeded. LDEQ report states that "The facility will be referred to the Circuit Rider Review process for failure to submit an updated notification within 60 days of the initial 7 day letter as required by LAC 33:I.3925.A.3." An investigation is in process to determine the cause of the electrical breaker trip after which, corrective actions will be implemented.
533.2 pounds
121257

2010-02-04
891-V-11A Coke Pot Valve
FLARE: Low Pressure Flare (308-F-D-1) & 891-V-11A Coke Pot Valve
Cause: Release notification form states that, during the Fractionator Tower Coke Pot, the unit operator improperly operated the Coke Pot's valves. This allowed hot, tar-like hydrocarbon material into the unit sewer, which caused a fire at the Coke Pots. FIRE.

Followup: Yes

Notes: RQ. The Coker Unit was shutdown in an emergency fashion while the fire was controlled and extinguished by the refinery's in-house fire brigade. Disciplinary actions were taken towards the operator and the supervisor of the Coker Unit for not following established procedures. The Coke Pot procedure was enhanced by adding another layer of protection via the requirement to physically lock "closed" the Coke Pot valves prior to unlocking the drain valves.
19,866.0 gallons
155473

2014-04-23
tank T-006
Cause: During the startup following the March/April Crude Unit shutdown-turnaround, a gas pocket was unexpectedly routed into tank T-006 resulting in crude oil being pushed between the tank seal and tank wall onto the floating roof. The crude oil subsequently collected in the tank's roof drain system and came out and flowed into the diked area surrounding T-006. At the time of the initial event, the T-006 dike drain valve was confirmed to be closed. It was later determined that there was a problem with the diked area drain piping that allowed some oil into the refinery storm water sewer and into a grassy area east of T-006. The piping has been repaired, the oil in the storm water sewer has been removed by vacuum truck, and the grassy area is in the process of being cleaned up (as of 4/30/14). All oil has been confined within the refinery with no chance of it entering any navigable waters outside the refinery. The Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigation was completed and revealed that a gas bubble from the process units traveled through piping to T-006 which caused an oil release on the roof deck. An approximately 20-foot section of the secondary seal was damaged along the northeast quadrant of the tank. As a result, heavy oil accumulation was present primarily on the east quadrant of the external floating roof and collected in the tanks roof drain system which subsequently flowed into the diked area surrounding T-006.

Followup: Yes

Notes: The roof drain from T-006 was re-routed to the refinery's oily water sewer system facilitating oil removal from the tank roof. Vacuum trucks were utilized to pick up free oil present within the tank dike. Oil booms were deployed to prevent further movement of free oil from affected areas. A root cause analysis was conducted and the following corrective actions were identified: 1) Revise refinery operating procedures so that gases remaining in lines are purged prior to routing to tank storage and block valves are used as isolation points instead of control valves. 2) Revise refinery operating procedures to include steps to liquid fill lines and minimize initial pumping rates so any remaining gases present in lines are not released quickly causing equipment damage 3) Revise refinery operating procedures to include steps to maintain unit pressures in a fashion that continuous steady state circulation is established in order to minimize the possibility of forming gases in circuits and pushing those gases to storage.
1,848.0 gallons