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Marathon Ashland Petroleum (3165), Garyville

Releases of Nitrogen Oxide

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
98913

2007-08-24
North Flare; weep holes on the HF Acid Shelter relief valve and the Main Fractionator Bottom relief valve
Cause: Unit 27 substation failed and shut down HF Alkylation, Butamer and Amine Treating. Failure of the bellows in Unit 27 Main Fractionator Bottoms relief valve

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ.
277.2 pounds
98913A

2007-08-24
North Flare; weep holes on the HF Acid Shelter relief valve and the Main Fractionator Bottom relief valve
Cause: Unit 27 substation failed and shut down HF Alkylation, Butamer and Amine Treating. Failure of the bellows in Unit 27 Main Fractionator Bottoms relief valve

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ.
277.2 pounds
98775

2007-08-18
North Flare
Cause: The Crude Overhead Compressor overpressured and was relieved to the North Flare

Followup: No

Notes: Claims emission was below RQ. Installing pressure indicators on the first stages of both overhead compressors which will be routed to the control room for iproved monitoring.
10.0
103887

2008-03-12
North Flare (EQT162 / EIQ 83-70)
Cause: During start up of the FCC Unit, excess fuel gas was produced and a small amount had to be flared from the Unit 43 Fuel Gas Mix Drum.

Followup: No

Notes: Marathon also flared non-olefinic fuel gas to minimize flaring.
12.4 pounds
103090

2008-02-15
North Flare (EQT162 / EIQ 83-70)
Cause: A partial refinery-wide power failure occurred. This caused several units to shutdown and relieve to flare. A small exchanger fire also occurred.

Followup: No

Notes: Once maintenance personnel secured the power supply, Operations began bringing units back on line. Follow up report with same DEQ incident number lists different emission amounts.
302.7 pounds
102655

2008-01-28
North Flare (EQT162 / EIQ 83-70)
Cause: Coker Unit's Wet Gas Compressor shut down due to high level in the suction drum

Followup: No

Notes: Pending results of investigation
142.0 pounds
102284

2008-01-15
Unit 46 - Deethanizer Reboiler
Unit 59 - North Flare
Unit 66 - RBS Flare
7 h 22 m
Cause: Shell's off gas compressor tripped causing the fuel gas pressure to increase and relieve to flare

Followup: No

Notes: FCCU Reactor Temperature was cut back to reduce off-gas production
15.7 pounds
116261

2009-07-07
Railcar loading rack, Unit 64 (EQI 14-97, EQT 0055)
Cause: Leaks on a relief valve flange and a dome flange were discovered on a rail-car when it arrived at the plant.

Followup: Yes

Notes: The car was relieved to flare instead of pressuring the car to off-load the contents, which is the normal procedure. Pressuring the car would have made the leaks worse.
176.0 pounds
112890

2009-01-23
south flare
flare
Cause: A valve misalignment on the iso-butane pump allowed iso-butane to be routed to the flare for approximately six hours before being discovered. While troubleshooting the flaring incident, operations found the relief valve on th DHT unit's recycle gas scrubber "chatter" to the flare. during the investigation it was discovered that the newly installed valve had malfunctioned

Followup: Yes

Notes: none, the releases went unnoticed until later.
111.5 pounds
112890

2009-01-23
south flare
flare
Cause: A valve misalignment on the iso-butane pump allowed iso-butane to be routed to the flare for approximately six hours before being discovered. While troubleshooting the flaring incident, operations found the relief valve on th DHT unit's recycle gas scrubber "chatter" to the flare. during the investigation it was discovered that the newly installed valve had malfunctioned

Followup: Yes

Notes: none, the releases went unnoticed until later.
1,031.8 pounds
126299

2010-09-11
FLARE - North [EQT282] & South Ground Flare [EQT160]
Cause: "Due to a power failure, the Shell off-gas compressors shutdown causing Marathon to have an over abundance of fuel gas which required flaring as a safety precaution." FLARE.

Followup: Yes

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded; detailed emissions report included. No LDEQ report. Refinery follow-up report only; follow-up letter states that original written report was submitted to LDEQ on 9/17/2010, but this is not included in the file.
57.9 pounds
123579

2010-05-18
FLARE: Unit 59 North (EQT #0162 EIQ #83-74) & South Flares (EQT #0160 EIQ #69-74)
Cause: Refinery letter states that liquid material from the refinery's FCCU carried over into the fuel gas system, causing incomplete combustion in the refinery's process heater and flares.

Followup: No

Notes: The source of the liquid stream was identified and isolated from the fuel gas system. The remaining liquid was drained from the process units' knockout drums. The process heaters were then restarted. Steps to prevent a recurrence of the incident will be taken once the root cause analysis is completed. NOTES: Nitrogen Oxides were released.
135.0 pounds
121955

2010-03-08
FLARE - South Ground Flare [EIQ 20B-08]
South Ground Flare
Cause: FLARE. Heat exchanger leak & fire required shutdown of Hydrocracking Unit, had to flare.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded and that "no specific remedial action is required in this case." Detailed emissions report included.
148.7 pounds
121186

2010-01-31
FLARE - North & South Ground Flares; Thermal Oxidizers #1, #2, #3; GME Thermal Oxidizer #1, #2
FLARE - North & South Ground Flares; Thermal Oxidizers #1, #2, #3; GME Thermal Oxidizer #1, #217m
Cause: Brief power outage caused multiple operating units to briefly shut down including sulfur plants. FLARE.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. No reportable quantities were exceeded. Units brought back online quickly, and had to flare.
21.8 pounds
120846

2010-01-16
FLARE - Refrigerated Butane Storage Emergency Flare Station
Cause: Refrigerated Butane Storage unit malfunctioned during maintenance activities, had to flare to release pressure. One part of report notes a power outage, unclear if this was purposeful as part of maintenance or not. FLARE.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. No reportable quantities were exceeded, but detailed emissions report included. Maintenance work began; incident is still "under investigation," but no follow-up report included.
49.2 pounds
120638

2010-01-09
FLARE: south flare
Cause: COLD WEATHER. "Freeze-related issue": eocene interstage drum filled with liquid due to a frozen drain line, tripped compressors, relief valve on the crude vacuum overhead opened to flare. Emissions table in report dark and hard to read.

Followup: No

Notes: Air monitoring team dispatched, crude vacuum gas to flare closed off and re-routed, bypass valve opened but did not drop level in time, steam hose hooked up to the controller to clear line. Refinery Letter states that reportable quantities were not exceeded [BRQ]. Detailed emissions report included.
489.2 pounds
136157

2011-12-27
205 Coker Unit to Unit 259 North Ground Flare
Cause: The incident occurred when the facility was switching from the online drum to the blowdown drum. During the switch, the Wet Gas Compressor surge controller attempted to open the second stage spillback valve. The valve hesitated to open, causing a spillback to trip open. This caused the frac and blowdown to pressure up and the compressor to send the product to the flare until the operations pressure returned to normal. At the time of the written notification, the incident was still being investigated to determine the cause of the overpressure condition.

Followup: No

Notes: The unit pressure levels were automatically corrected by the wet gas compressor surge control system.
6.4 pounds
134819

2011-10-22
Includes U21, U43, U55, U212, and U243
Cause: On 10/21/11 the Propane Shipping Pump, 63-1537-01, was shutdown due to vibration problems which limited propane throughout the refinery. Operations made moves to cut charge rates and lined up the propane to the fuel gas system. Intermittently flared from Units 21, 43, 55, 212, and 243. No known off site impacts. Incident investigation is being conducted to determined the why the incident occurred.

Followup: No

Notes: Opened 21P6431C, sweet fuel gas valve to flare to reduce pressure on fuel gas header and lower the level in 43-1202 (3:22am -4:09 am) bullet. Unit 63 shutdown propane shoppin pump, 63-1537-01, and U22 & U222 propane was routed to the bullet, 21HC6431 sweet fuel gas valve opened to the south flare from (8:21 am - 3:30pm). Fuel Gas Mix Drum 243-PC-0180B opened to flare due to Unit 205 sending excess propane to fuel gas header. Valve opened intermittently during this time from (11:15 am- 4:28pm) not opened above 10%. C3 propane from Domains 1 and 9 in refinery fuel gas causing high fuel gas pressure and 43PC5355 opened to flare three times (11:20am-11:30am), (11:53am-12:20pm), (12:45pm-1:05pm). Unit 55 Flare sweet refinery fuel gas from C3 propane in RFG Domain 1 and 9, 10/22/11 (11:28 am -3:55pm), 10/22/11 (7:42pm)- 10/23/11 (4:07am). An incident investigation will result in recommendation items designed to prevent the recurrence of this event. Values for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides do not match the sum of the daily reports. They are higher than the sum of the reportable values.
850.1 pounds
132152

2011-06-30
Unit 59 North Flare
Cause: The pressure relief valve on the unit 232 rich amine flash drum failed. Material in the flash drum was depressured by flaring until the relief valve would have closed. Leaking release valve and sour water stripper. Material was sent to Unit 59 North Flare (EQT# 0162 and EIQ# 83-74)

Followup: No

Notes: The flash drum was allowed to depressure to the flare until the relief valve would have close and the valve could be repaired. an incident investigation will result in recommendation items designed to prevent the recurrence of this event.
1.2 pounds
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.
385.0 pounds
144322

2012-10-30
Unit 59 South Flare
Cause: On October 30, 2012, at 15:20 hours, a propylene rail car was lined up to the flare during unloading process. A Root Cause Analysis is being conducted to determine the exact cause of this incident.

Followup: No

Notes: Products Control personnel closed flare line leading from propylene unloading racks to the flare header system. Incident investigation will result in recommendation items designed to prevent recurrence. The reportable quantity for Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs) was exceeded during the 24 hour period. An incident investigation was conducted to determine the cause or causes of the incident. Per this investigation, the root cause was identified as the procedures were followed incorrectly. The SGS operator misaligned the valve line-up and allowed propylene to offload to the flare. The two recommendations (actions) from the investigation were 1) review and reinforce to personnel the importance of following Operating Guidelines while performing all shift duties- completed 2/18/13; and 2) add proper valve alignment to railcar checklist- completed on 2/20/13.
35.7 pounds
143781

2012-10-12
Unit 59 North Flare

Cause: The initiating incident was a pump seal fire in the Gasoline Desulfurization Unit (Unit 55). The fire was fueled by a leaking seal on the pump. Extinguishing the fire was delayed by inability to close an EIV on the suction side of the pump. This resulted in emergency shutdown of the unit. Two other events also occurred on this day including an upset in Sulfur Plant Unit 234 and a flame-out of the North Flare. Due to the fire and emergency shutdown of the Gasoline Desulfurization Unit, the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit cut feed, sending vent gas to the North Flare. Process vent gas was sent to the North Flare which increased the steam to the flare suddenly, snuffing the flare out.

Followup: Yes

Notes: PDF too large to upload (109 pages) To re-light the North Flare, steam was gradually decreased and natural gas was added to the flare gas to allow the two available igniters to relight the North Flare. Parts to repair the North Flare pilot system were already on order when this incident occurred. The North Flare was taken out of service when the parts were received and repaired on October 31, 2012. Spare pilot and igniter assemblies are now in stock so that repairs can be made in a timely fashion if an incident like this is to occur again. Total amount of pollutants released was 59438.44 lbs, but 90% was claimed to be efficiently burned off, resulting in 5943.59 lbs that were actually released. The reportable quantity for Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs) (100 pounds) was exceeded during the 24 hour period.
275.0 pounds
141908

2012-08-08
RBS Flare
Cause: False reading on the 66LT0511 level controller caused the two NC4 compressors to trip. The high pressure on the receiver, due to high liquid level, caused the 66PC0507 valve on the receiver to open the RBS flare. Approximately 6.67 lbs of VOCs were released as a result.

Followup: No

Notes: The operator blew down transmitter 66LT0511 and opened the bypass valve on the receiver to send the liquid back to the RBS tank. The faulty level transmitter was taken out of service and repaired.
0.5 pounds
138329

2012-03-25
RBS Flare
Cause: The pressure safety valve for Tank 250-2 had opened, so the operator blocked in the PSV.

Followup: No

Notes: No offsite impact was associated with the event.
9.7 pounds
137057

2012-02-08
Unit 59 North Flare
Cause: A root cause analysis is being conducted to determine why this incident occurred. The Louisiana Refining Division's Investigative Summary Report states that the initiating event was the troubleshooting common alarm on the Bently Nevada radial vibration proximitor card to include a module self-test for diagnostic information.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Operations restarted the Wet Gas Compressor. The root cause analysis will result in recommendation items designed to prevent the recurrence of this event. The refinery stated that lessons learned included: On a Bently Nevada 3500 system, a module self-test or replacement will cause the output signal to go to 0ma. If the output signal is wired to a Triconex system, it will report the transmitter as being an unreliable signal (bad transmitter of bad pv). VOC chemical breakdown is provided. Only the RQ for SO2 was exceeded during this release.
9.3 pounds
149651

2013-07-15
Unit 259 North Ground Flare
Cause: On July 15, 2013, due to a crude oil switch, a high level occurred in the Unit 222 Sats Gas Plant (SGP) Compressor Suction Drum which caused the Sats Gas PLant Compressor to temporarily shutdown. This resulted in some flaring of the overhead gas to the North Ground Flare for about 55 minutes. The first incident began at 09:05 hours on July 15, 2013, and was secured by 10:00 hours. The second incident began at 19:32 hours on July 15, 2013, and was secured by 19:33 hours.

Followup: No

Notes: For Incident 1, the level in the Sats Gas Plant Compressor Suction Drum was lowered and the Sats Gas Plant Compressor was re-started. For Incident 2, operating personnel made operating changes to the unit to bring it out of upset conditions. These incidents will be investigated and an action plan to prevent recurrence will be generated. Follow up report submitted 10/23/13 states that original report included Greenhouse Gas emissions, however these emissions are not required to be evaluated for reportable quantity because they are not permitted pollutants. The report updates the calculations without greenhouse gases included.
10.4 pounds
149704

2013-07-15
Unit 259 North Ground Flare
Cause: ON July 15, 2013, an upset in Crude Unit 210 caused the Crude Compressor Suction Drum to vent to the North Ground Flare for approximately one minute. The first incident was due to a crude oil switch causing the Unit 22 Sats Gas Plant Compressor to shutdown on high level. The second incident was due to an upset in the Unit 210 Crude Unit that cause the Unit 210 Crude Compressor Suction Drum to vent to the North Ground Flare.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Operating personnel made operating changes to the unit to bring it out of upset conditions. October 23, 2013 additional follow-up report corrects emissions data submitted by MPC. MPC erroneously included greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the incident calculation. GHGs are not permitted pollutant and are not required to be evaluated for reportable quantities.
10.1 pounds
146138

2013-01-17
Unit 259 North Ground Flare
Cause: Unit 222 Sats Gas Plant experienced an upset due to an over-pressure condition on the debutanizer column. As a result, pressure relief valves lifted, sending debutanizer overhead material to the refinery's North Ground Flare. Root cause was a faulty pressure transmitter.

Followup: No

Notes: The Board Operator decreased pressure on the debutanizer column. The faulty transmitter was replaced. Initial reports from January, 2013 stated no permit limits were exceeded concerning released pollutants. Final calculations from April 4, 2013 determined otherwise.
89.6 pounds