Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

Releases of Sulfur Dioxide

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
80774

2005-07-24
TGTU-4 Stack Plume
Cause: No information given

Followup: No

Notes: None
79188

2005-05-18
A stack on the TGTU-4
Cause: No information given

Followup: No

Notes: Originally reported on telephone as excess emissions of Sulfur Dioxide. Follow up report: RQ not exceeded.
91442

2006-10-17
TGTU no. 1 incinerator stack and TGTU no. 4 incinerator stack
Cause: Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) No. 5 tripped due to low airflow, which was caused by the trip of the turbine air blower (81C-101) on SRU-5. This subsequently causde TGTU-5 to trip, as these two units operate in series. With the trip of SRU-5/TGTU-5, acid gas processing ability decreased causing a subsequent increase in pressure on the acid gas header. This increase in pressure led to the trip of SRU-2/TGTU-1. The turbine air blower was determined to have tripped as designed due to excessive vibration from a mechanical failure in the turbine's speed governor.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Minimized acid gas production by reducing charge rates, worked to restart units. Motiva plans to evaluate the process rate reductions needed from the acid gas generating units when upset conditions occur in the SRU/TGTU units in an attempt to reduce the potential for SO2 emissions from overloading the operating SRU/TGTU units. Motiva also plans to install a "Stackmatch" system in TGTU-1 during a 2008 Maintenance turnaround to reduce the delays associated with the lighting of the heater inline pilot. No LDEQ report in this file. Exceeded RQs and permit limits.
795.0 pounds
88564

2006-06-13
flare #2
Cause: piece of instrument air tubing failed causing a bypass control valve around a steam generator to close. Flow through the intermediate cycle gas oil circuit stopped, causing de-ethanizer tower to slump, increasing concentration of light material in the de-butanizer tower feed, increased pressure, causing flaring event

Followup: No

Notes: "unit charge rate and riser temperature were reduced immediately following the loss of heat medium into the de-ethanizer reboiler to minimize the loading to the debutanizer tower. The bypass around 2PDC-142 was opened to re-establish flow to the de-ethanizer reboiler."
1,756.0 pounds
88561

2006-06-12
flare
Cause: Flare in excess of RQ--"tail gas unit did not get the gas before it was flared as is the normal process"--no other details, hazmat report only in this file.

Followup: No

Notes: no information given
2,000.0 pounds
85774

2006-02-13
Flare No. 2 EIQ No. 19AH-901
Cause: FCCU Wet Gas compressor shut down due to gas turbine overspeed. The servo has been sent out to identify the cause of failur

Followup: Yes

Notes: The servo valve was replaced and the unit restarted. [Follow-up report to telephone report on 2/13/06]
94,211.0 pounds
100801

2007-11-06
Steam Boiler EPN 31F-810
Tail Gas Treatment Unit No. 4 Incinerator Stack EPN 78H-101
VPS-2 Atmospheric Tower Feed Heater EPN 83H-101
Cause: The seal on a diesel circulation pump on VPS-2 (a crude distillation unit) failed as a reslut of a suspected bearing problem. This seal failure caused the release of approximately 434 bbls of untreated (sour) diesel, which ignited, resulting in a fire.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Motiva has slowed down production throughout the refinery until investigations are complete. Inspected, repaired, and rebuilt the pump as necessary. W/r/t pump seal failure, rotating equipmt and other personnel will complete the investigation and implement necessary changes to monitoring, inspection, and maintenance procedures
3,694.0 pounds
100454

2007-10-23
Fuel oil pump 70P-384
Cause: While conducting evening rounds on the H-Oil unit, operations personnel noticed a fire on the seal of the fuel oil pump 70P-384. A leaking seal on the pump and high process temperatures resulted in the fire.

Followup: No

Notes: The pump was isolated from the process to cease fuel oil leakage. Approximately 22 gallons of fuel oil was released during the incident with 20 gallons being contained on the unit slab and the remainder being combusted. Operations personnel quickly responded with a fire extinguisher and extingushed the fire. Other operations personnel ceased operation of the pump and isolated it from the process. Motiva quickly activated the Emergency Response Plan. Motiva will continue to inspect pumps and associated process equipment during normal operational rounds for abnormal operation and for environmentally unfriendly and unsafe conditions.
0.1 pounds
100304

2007-10-18
Tail Gas Treatment Unit No. 4 Incinerator Stack EPN 78H-101
Cause: unexpected shut down of Sulfur Recovery Unit No.

Followup: No

Notes: Under investigation - no remedial actions specified
No LDEQ Reported

2007-10-14
Tail Gas Treatment Unit
Cause: upset occurs at Amine Regeneration Units leads to SO2 increase at tail gas treating units

Followup: No

Notes: Under investigation - no remedial actions specified
No LDEQ Reported

2007-09-26
Tail Gas Treatment Unit 4 - EPN 78 H 101
Cause: unexpected shut down of the inline heater caused a unit upse

Followup: No

Notes: Under investigation - no remedial actions specified
No LDEQ Reported

2007-08-18
Tail Gas Treatment Unit No. 4 Incinerator Stack EPN 78H-101
Cause: while lighting the thermal reactor, visible emissions/pluming were observed from the TGTU sta

Followup: No

Notes: Letters states the release was BRQ
98209

2007-07-28
Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU-5)
Cause: see notes

Followup: No

Notes: trip on Sulfur Recovery Unit results in release
98053

2007-07-23
Tank 20D-12 (EIQ 20D-12)
Cause: While conducting demolition activities on the tank 20D-I2 floating roof, a fire began due to cutting of the roof with acetylene torches where residual hydrocarbon remained in the floating roof pontoon.

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva will inspect pontoons and other difficult to access areas that may contain hydrocarbon, and remove any material present prior to resuming demolition activiti
97658

2007-07-08
HTU-1 Kerosene Reboiler (EPN 3F 404)
Cause: an unexpected heater tube rupture resulted in a fire at HTU-1

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva is thoroughly inspecting the heater and other affected equipment and will make necessary repairs prior to restarting the heater and process unit. Will re-evaluate inspection frequencies, preventive maintenance frequencies, operating limits and associated procedures, and make necessary changes to help prevent recurrenc
264.0 pounds
07-BB011-3201

2007-06-13
Tail Gas Treating Unit-1
Cause: malfunction of SRU-2 Diverter valves

Followup: No

Notes: Under investigation - no remedial actions specified
95180

2007-04-09
Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit
Cause: malfunction of a relief valve

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that follow-up investigation indicated no RQ's were exceeded for Flares 1 and 2
94903

2007-03-27
No information given
Cause: No information given

Followup: Yes

Notes: Letter states that RQ's were exceeded. More information to be provided in follow-up report.
94473

2007-03-09
Sulfur Recovery Unit
Cause: see notes

Followup: No

Notes: Release results from trips in the Sulfur Recovery Unit. This is a verbal notification - no letter from Motiva included.
500.0 pounds
93779

2007-02-06
Refinery Flare No. 2 19AH-901
Cause: during start up of FCCU and shut down of the electric-motor driven pump, the turbine-driven pump failed to maintain adequate feed flow and both charge heaters tripped. During FCCU Start up the Main Fractionator vented to fla

Followup: Yes

Notes: Motiva revised the FCCU normal startup procedure to highlight the desire to slowly increase circulating reflux flow rates in an attempt to minimize pressure spikes due to water pockets.
3,680.0 pounds
111370

2008-12-11
Tail Gas Treating Unit 3 (77H-101)
Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78H-101)
Flare No 3 (19G-301)
Cause: Upset of the ebulated-bed residuum hydrocracker (H-oil Unit) with a series of fluctuating alarms. While responding to the alarms, operators noticed a fire on the compressor turbine casing and immediately responded to extinguish the fire. The primary cause of this event was a H-Oil unit malfunctioning local level controller on the sour oil seal pot causing the drain valve to remain open and lose reference gas pressure across the seal oil pot.

Followup: Yes

Notes: FIRE. Operations began to reduce production by reducing charge rates on units and to troubleshoot H-Oil recycle compressor and fin fan malfunctions. Immediate action was taken to begin the process of stabilizing, slowing down and shutting down the H-Oil unit and other units as necessary. Affirmative defense letter. Motiva inspected and completed insrumentation checks on the level control for thesour oil seal pots the level control drain valve and the level gauge. A faulty high-level switch was found and replaced. COR will schedulean operation's monitoring cycle to ensure proper sour oil seal pots level. COR will also add a level control loop for the sour oil seal pots levels during the next maintenance outage.
2,895.0 pounds
110293

2008-10-22
Boiler 801 (81F-801)
Cause: Faulty level alarm on the C3/C4 H2S Absorber caused a heater to trip. This caused the amine circulation to be reduced which inadvertently caused overloading of the amine system.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Affirmative defense letter precedes regular report. Motiva will review potential threats for the instrumentation to determine appropriate modifications or adjustments
1,221.0 pounds
08-BB011-3372

2008-09-23
Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78H-101)
Cause: failure of TGTU Absorber Tower level controller

Followup: No

Notes: Affirmative defense letter
109411

2008-09-20
Flares
Cause: No information given

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ.
08-BB011-3371

2008-09-19
Tail Gas Treating Unit 2 (76H-101)
Cause: see notes. Insufficient oxygen supply to the Sulfur Recovery Unit

Followup: No

Notes: Affirmative defense letter
109302

2008-09-18
Tail Gas Treating Unit 2 (76H-101)
Cause: upset in the Amine Regeneration Units

Followup: Yes

Notes:
108469

2008-08-31
Flare CAP (19F-3, 19AH-901, 19G-310, 19G302)
Cause: Hurricane Gustav prompts preparatory shutdown. Natural gas was cutoff by provider (highly unusual - didn't happen w/ Katrina). Flaring occurred b/c there was not enough time for material to be processed by downstream units

Followup: Yes

Notes: Motiva currently trying to regain power for start-up of all units. Follow-up report revises prior calculation of SO2 emissions from 2600 lbs to BRQ.
107907

2008-08-10
Boiler 801 (81F-801)
Boiler No 2 (31F-802)
Cause: loss of accurate level and flow info to the HGU's carbon recovery section resulted in a unit upset by the carrying of hydrocarbon material to the flare system for pressure relief

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva will review potential threats for the instrumentation to determine appropriate modifications or adjustments.
75,172.0 pounds
106483

2008-06-17
Tail Gas Treating Unit 1 (17AH-103)
Cause: unplanned shutdown of boiler feed water system occurred which caused shutdown of refinery's boiler feed water syste

Followup: Yes

Notes: Motiva secured the electrical conduit for the pump controller on the day of the incident. Motiva will evaluate and set the BFW pump auto-starts to a specific minimum BFW system pressure. Motiva has set the auto-start to 725 psi as an interim measure.
85,334.0 pounds
106378

2008-06-11
Tail Gas Treating Unit No 4 (78H-101)
Cause: Faulty solenoid valve of the O2 valve which tripped and unreacted H2S entered the TGTU

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva claims affimative defense. Data here provided in DEQ report and Motiva letter of 6/18/08. Operations contacted the electrical and instrumentation (E&I) department to investigate the cause of the closure of the oxygen trip valve. After finding the faulty solenoid on the oxygen trip valve, E&I installed a new solenoid.
968.0 pounds
08-BB011-3304

2008-06-06
Tail Gas Treating Unit No 4 (78H-101)
Cause: upset in the Amine Regeneration Units

Followup: No

Notes: Affirmative defense letter.
>RQ
104915

2008-04-09
Tail Gas Treating Unit No 4 (78H-101)
Cause: process ratio analyzer malfunction causes operational instability that resulted in excess SO2 emissions.

Followup: No

Notes: Affirmative defense letter.
103359

2008-02-23
H-Oil Unit (hydrocracker)
Cause: see notes. Incipient fire from a leaking bleeder on the H-Oil Unit

Followup: No

Notes: FIRE. Motiva will continue to monitor process bleeders, caps, and plugs for correct positioning and isolatio
2.0 pounds
102852

2008-02-05
No information given
Cause: No information given

Followup: Yes

Notes: No info on point source or specific amt released
>RQ
08-BB011-3264

2008-01-17
Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78h-101)
Cause: see notes. Hydrocarbon carryover into the amine system due to an incident in/around the H-Oil Unit

Followup: No

Notes: Affirmative defense letter.
08-BB011-3259

2008-01-06
Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78H-101)
Cause: upset in the Amine Regeneration Units

Followup: No

Notes: Affirmative defense letter.
102008

2008-01-02
Tail Gas Treating Unit 1 (17AH-103)
Cause: a pressure transmitter malfunctions causing a shutdown of TGTU-1 inline heater. This sparks a chain of events that result in release of SO2

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva will review potential threats for the transmitter to determine appropriate modifications or adjustments if any
1,301.0 pounds
117144

2009-08-07
flare no. 2 and wet gas scrubber
Cause: Regenerated Catalyst Slide Valve (RCSV) of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) changed position without a corresponding command from the control system causing trip of the gas turbine driving the Wet Gas Compressor because of high exhaust temperature--overpressure control valve opened to flare. Exceeded RQ's.

Followup: Yes

Notes: "Took immediate action to begin the process of stabilizing, slowing down, and diverting feed from the FCCU riser." Circuit board replaced, cleaned the servo and will replace it when spare arrives.
76,337.0 pounds
116617

2009-07-19
TGTU incinerator
Cause: Booster blower motor failed to due to lubrication problem caused by rain getting inside it during a heavy storm--automatic oiler did not replenish oil that was drained off with the water afterward. Motor failure caused Tail Gas Treating Unit (TGTU) 4 to unexpectedly shut down and unit charge was diverted to the TGTU incinerator from the SRU (sulfur recovery unit); sour gas combustion then resulted in excess emissions. Exceeded RQ's. No DEQ report in this file--hazmat and follow-up only.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Made efforts to reduce operating rates on units producing acid gas or rich amine and to distribute the acid gas flow to other operating SRU/TGTUs. Installed motor from another piece of idled equipment in booster blower and restarted it.
1,554.0 pounds
116459

2009-07-14
flare
Cause: "H-Oil recycle compressor inadvertently tripped due to a false vibration indication, which forced the H-Oil Unity to depressure;" had to flare. No DEQ report in this file. RQs not exceeded.

Followup: No

Notes: No info given.
113955

2009-04-04
SRU-4 thermal reactor; TGTU-3
Cause: Level 2 fire at Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU)no. 4's thermal reactor due to failure of the SRU-4 thermal reactor vessel. Tail Gas Treating Unit (TGTU) No. 3 upset during firefighting efforts causing additional emissions. Fenceline monitoring indicated no offsite impacts. Exceeded RQs.

Followup: Yes

Notes: In-house fire dept and ERT worked to extinguish fire, reduced operating rates on units producing acid gas or rich amine and to distribute the acid gas flow to other operation SRU/TGTUs during firefight to safely shut down SRU/TGTU-4.
7,000.0 pounds
112974

2009-02-24
Tail Gas Treating Unit Number 1 (17AH-103)
Cause: The Booster Compressors (17BC-101 & 17BC-102) unexpectedly shutdown due to high differential pressures, while operations was swapping booster compressor operations. A malfunction of the stackmatch pilot delayed the restart of the inline heater, which ultimately caused emissions to exceed the RQ.

Followup: No

Notes: Ceased emitting once Convent Refinery restarted the TGTU-1 inline heater and resumed normal acid gas processing.
112352

2009-01-28
Valve
Cause: An upset of the refinery's evulated-bed residuum hydrocracker (H-Oil Unit)cause the emitting of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from flaring of hydrogen and hydrocarbons. A valve failure most likely caused the incident.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Operations took action to begin the process of stabilizing, slowing down and shutting down the H-Oil Unit, as necessary.
6,250.0 pounds
128236

2010-12-20
FLARE: Flare #3
Cause: A process upset occurred at the H-oil unit resulting in a flare ground fire. Approximately three barrels of heavy cycle gas oil and diesel fuel impacted the soil/grass which caught fire and burned the grass. Refinery follow-up report states that the incident was attributed to faulty instrumentation on the unit knock-out flare drum. FLARE. FIRE.

Followup: Yes

Notes: RQ. Refinery letter states that reportable quantities for oil and sulfur dioxide were exceeded. Connected to a citizens complaint that Flare #3 was on fire. Ascension Fire Department was on scene to extinguish the grass fire. Motiva made efforts to contain the sour hydrocarbon within the FGR system and to treat sour gas streams prior to depressuring to the flare system, However, sour gas was still combusted in the flare. Second time possibly exceeding the 500-pound limit of SO2 within two months due to system upset with the H-Oil unit: See incident report 127630.
737.0 pounds
127630

2010-11-14
FLARE: Flare #3 [19G-301]
Cause: Followup Letter: Initiating cause was a collapsed oil filter in the lube oil system. Refinery letter states that this was likely caused by water contamination. A unit charge pump tripped causing a unit upset, warranting the controlled shutdown of the H-Oil unit (Ebulated-bed residum hydrocracker), causing sour hydrogen depressurizing to be sent to the flare gas recover system, resulting in SO2 and H2S to be released. Problem occurred in Flare #1 #2 and #3. FLARE. Final Followup Letter: Incident due to an upset of the refinery's ebulated-bed residuum hydrocracker (H-Oil Unit).

Followup: Yes

Notes: RQ. Refinery letter states that incident released nearly 5000 pounds above the required limit for SO2. Efforts were made to contain the depressured sour hydrogen within the Flare gas recovery system and to treat the sour gas prior to being sent to the flare system, however the sour gas streams were still combusted to the flare. The excess emissions ceased once Convent refinery resumed stable operations and shutdown the process units. Remedial Actions included replacing paper filter and air-operated relay which was not responding. Final Followup Letter: Reduced the speed of the reactor ebbulating pump to prevent catalyst from carrying over the top of the reactor. The air operated relay was replaced. Lab results concluded that the filter collapse was indeed a result of water intrusion which swelled the individual fibers of the fiberglass cellulose lube oil filter leading to its collapse. Motiva is changing the filter type from a fiberglass cellulose filter to a synthetic polyester material filter which is not prone to fiber swelling. Field investigation identified that steam was leaking from the turbine shaft seal area down the shaft of the turbine driver and into the bearing housing, contaminating the lube oil. The turbine steam ejector was adjusted to draw the leaking steam away from the turbine shaft and direct it to a downstream gland condenser. A pressure gauge was installed on the gland condenser piping to allow operators to monitor the seal vacuum pressure.
5,486.0 pounds
126983

2010-10-10
No Information Given
Cause: "Greater than 500 lbs of sulfur dioxide is estimated to have been released because the sulfur recovery unit tripped." Refinery letter later states that detailed calculations performed since the incident reveal that no RQ were exceeded.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded. No remedial actions mentioned.
135985

2011-12-19
flare #2
Cause: The incident occurred at Motiva's Refinery on 12/19/11 due to an upset of the refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU). The upset began when the FCCU Wet Gas Compressor controller unexpectedly switched to back up and slowed the FCCU Wet Gas Compressor speed down. This over-pressured FCCU Fractionator tower which caused the tower's pressure controller to open the flare. The FCCU Wet Gas Compressor controller was taken out of automatic mode and placed into manual mode and the speed was increased to reduce the FCCU Fractionator tower pressure. The flaring ceased when the pressure reduced on the FCCU Fractionator.

Followup: No

Notes: No Information Given. Claims that they released 346lbs OVER the permitted limit but did not exceed 500 lbs. The value is greater than 346 lbs and less than 500 lbs.
346.0 pounds
133665

2011-09-08
Refinery Flare No.1, No.2 and No.3
Cause: Motiva states that initially the upset began after routine maintenance on a Wet Gas Compressor flow transmitter. The Suspected Controller sent a signal to open the anti-surge spill-back creating a recycle from the compressor discharge to suction. A compressor malfunctioned causing flaring in Refinery Flare No.1, Flare No.2 and Flare No.3 cumulatively beyond permit limit and the release of 2,097 pounds of SO2.

Followup: No

Notes: LDEQ and Follow-Up provided, but there was no Refinery Letter included. Motiva states that there was a non-preventable release of approximately 1,952 pounds of SO2 and 3.68 pounds of H2S. The Catalytic cracking controllers (CCC) were replaced and the data recording software was upgraded and is being analyzed.
1,952.0 pounds
130690

2011-04-21
Sulfur Unit (SRU-4); TGTU No 4
Cause: State police report states that an unplanned shutdown occurred due to an upset in the sulfur unit, causing a release in sulfur dioxide. The incident originated with the unit re-start of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) which then affected the processes of the Amine Recovery Unit (ARU).

Followup: No

Notes: Operations modified the start-up procedure to better diagnose a buildup of backpressure from downstream.
1,467.0 pounds
130936

2011-04-15
TGTU-4 Incinerator
FCCU WGS
Cause: The incident began at Motiva's Convent Refinery on 4/15/11 when the refinery's Boiler # 4 shutdown due to an internal tube failure. With the loss of the boiler, the refinery transitioned to steam curtailment and several units were forced to reduce charge rates. As units were being reduced, the excess fuel gas not being utilized was routed to the refinery flare gas system (flares #1 and #2). The opacity limit was exceeded due to the lack of steam available in the refinery to affectively control the smoke while flaring the excess fuel gas. Also during the transition, the FCCU experienced an upset which caused hydrocarbon to under carry from under the high pressure fuel gas knock out drum into the amine acid gas header. The amine acid gas header feeds the Tail Gas Treating Units in the Sulfur Recovery Plant. As the amine acid gas (and the entrained hydrocarbon carried under from the FCCU) was combused in the TGTU-4 Incinerator, the sulfur dioxide and opacity released through the stack was above permitted limits. The excess emissions ceased when the FCCU was stabilized.

Followup: No

Notes: Report notes that Motiva exceeded their emission standards for opacity limit and the maximum limits of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide in lbs/hr. Motiva states that they exceed the 500 pound reportable quantity for sulfur dioxide.This report does not say the duration of the release or the amount of pollutants that were released. Report was found during a written notification process.
500.0 pounds
130553

2011-04-11
flare #2
Cause: Incident occurred due to an upset of the refinery's fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU). The FCCU Wet Gas Compressor has three speed probes wired to the Triconex system, which performs the governor controls for the compressor's desired speed. The Triconex system processes the three speed readings and sends an electronic output signal (basically an average speed value of the three probe readings) to the CCC control system (which includes a 1st and 2nd stage antisurge controller). The CCC controller uses the speed signal to determine if the the compressor is "running" of "stopped". The upset began when the 1st Stage Wet Gas Compressor speed signal malfunctions sending a false reading to the compressor speed controller to decrease speed. The speed controller interpreted the low speed signal to mean the compressor was shutting down. To protect he compressor it fully opened the anti surge spillback creating a recycle from the compressor discharge to the suction. Since the low speed signal was false and the machine was not shutting down the recycle overloaded and the capacity of the Wet Gas Compressor and it could not keep up with the gas coming from the Main Fractionator. With the Wet Gas Compressor maxed out, the gas from the Main Fractionator Overhead could not get out and the pressure controller opened to the flare. The flaring ceased when the spillback valve was closed and the pressure reduced on the Main Fractionator. The flaring was a result of over pressuring of the Fractionator. The over pressure condition occurred due to the Wet Gas Compressor antisurge recycle valve going fully open due to a false low speed reading reading on the 1st stage anti surge controller.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Operations took immediate action to begin the process of stabilizing the FCCU by cutting back unit charge rate. Both the 1st and 2nd Stage Wet Gas Compressor speed controllers were set to from automatic to manual while E&I began troubleshooting the speed signals. Actions were taken to provide the operator an alarm in the event the condition reoccurs with instructions on how to mitigate until technical support arrives. All wiring associated with the CCC Control system was inspected on 4/11/11. Voltage checks were performed on all circuits and the speed signal was tested on 4/11/11. The CCC controllers will be replaced and the data recording software will be upgraded during the 2011 FCCU turnaround for a target completion date of 8/31/11. Flare # 4 exceeded maximum opacity limits during this incident.
3,585.5 pounds
130985

2011-04-03
Sulfur Recovery Unit
Cause: No Information Given.

Followup: No

Notes: This report is a written follow up to the courtesy call made on 4/3/11 concerning the release of sulfur dioxide on Convent's Sulfur Recovery Unit. The incident was initially reported to the LA State Police as a potential RQ exceedance based on limited information available at the time. Calculations performed reveal no reportable quantities were exceeded.
128963

2011-02-01
Pressure Swing Adsorber
Refinery Heaters
Cause: Flaring due to unplanned shutdown of Pressue Swing Adsorber (PSA) system. Oxygen analyzer on VPS-2 Atm Heater went into alarm due to composition change in fuel gas caused by PSA's startup. Additionally, a malfunctioning pressure controller within the Amine regeneration Unit caused the kick back valve on the amine pump.

Followup: Yes

Notes: BRQ. No information given.
145421

2012-12-17
Sulfur Recovery Unit No. 3 (SRU-3) incinerator stack
Cause: On December 17, 2012, Motiva Entersprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported a potential sulfur dioxide (SO2) release which occurred at the facility due to a regulator malfunction while shutting down Sulfur Recovery Unit No. 3 (SRU-3) for maintenance. The malfunction caused the downstream Tail Gas Treatment Unit No. 3 (TGTU-3) to be bypassed resulting in SO2 emissions from the incinerator stack. The material released to the air did go offsite according to the facility's verbal report.

Followup: No

Notes: The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total sulfur dioxide emissions from this incident were not above the reportable quantity.
144945

2012-11-28
FCCU
Cause: On November 28, 2012, Motiva Convent Refinery reported a potential sulfur dioxide (SO2) release which occurred at the facility due to operational swings during the startup of the FCCU.

Followup: No

Notes: The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total sulfur dioxide emissions from this incident were not above the reportable quantity.
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.
34,788.2 pounds
144085

2012-10-20
Sulfur Recovery Unit and Tail Gas Treating Unit
Cause: On October 20, 2012, Motiva Convent Refinery reported a potential sulfur dioxide (SO2) release which occurred at the facility due to an upset on the Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) and Tail Gas Treating Unit (TGTU). The upset was caused by a trip on one of the unit's heaters causing elevated SO2 emissions.

Followup: No

Notes: The incident was initially reported as an exceedance of the 500 lb Reportable Quantity (RQ) for Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total SO2 emissions from this incident were not above the permitted limit.
143440

2012-09-29

Cause: Excess gas released to the flare.

Followup: No

Notes: s12-17286 Excess gas was flared, causing a release of sulfur dioxide. Approximately 1075 lbs of S02 was released- excess gas released to flare. No air monitoring was performed by the facility. They claim that everything has been secured. Verbal report only. Unable to find the refinery letter. Even though the facility did not classify the incident as above reportable quantity, the sulfur dioxide release exceeded RQ by 575 lbs. The reportable quantity for Sulfur dioxide is 500 lbs and the facility released 1075 lbs of S02.
1,075.0 pounds
139974

2012-05-24
Flare #3
Cause: During normal operation, two redundant level control valves on the bottom of 70F-107 failed, and liquid filled the vessel. This caused the pressure of the vessel to increase, resulting in the vessel's pressure relief device to open to the flare. Sent to Flare #3

Followup: Yes

Notes: Gases were contained in the Flare Gas Recovery system until maximum operating pressures of the system required the refinery to flare. The operating unit immediately reduced charge to minimize the generation of gas routed to the flare. Reactor temperatures and charge rates were reduced while maintenance repaired the two valves. Stable operations were established and the flaring ended. Manager bypassed the unit to stabilize the vessel. Fugitive emissions sent to Flare #3. Another follow-up report will be submitted at the conclusion of the investigation of the root cause and any appropriate modifications or adjustments.
14,841.0 pounds
139889

2012-05-18
HTU-2 Low Pressure Offgas Absorber
Cause: On May 18, 2012, the 500 pound reportable quantity for sulfur dioxide was exceeded at Motiva Enterprises Convent Refinery in St. James Parish. Hydrogen sulfide was also released during this event. The incident occurred at Motiva's Convent Refinery on May 18, 2012 at approximately 2:59am and ended at approximately 4:02am. On the morning of May 18, 2012, the HTU-2 Unit was in the process of starting up, when H2S containing hydrocarbons entered the unit's low pressure fuel gas drum. The H2S containing hydrocarbons were then combusted in the West Side Refinery Fuel Gas combustion devices causing exceeedances of the SO2 RQ and maximum pounds per hour permit limits. No information is provided in addition to defining the causal factors of this incident human error.

Followup: No

Notes: This incident occurred on May 18, 2012. LABB could not locate the initial 7-day report required by law documenting this accident on EDMS. The only available report was the belated "60-day follow up report" dated March 19, 2013 (approximately 11 months after the accident). Immediately after the incident, operators initiated procedure GP058-Identifying the Source of H2S in Plant Fuel Gas to determine the source sending H2S containing hydrocarbon to the low pressure west fuel gas drum. This procedure requires operations personnel to conduct Sensidyne Sampling for H2S at potentially culpable sources. Additionally, amine circulation was immediately increased in all H2S absorber towers to cease H2S breakthrough in the event breakthrough was the cause of the event. Also at thi time, operators performed field walks on potentially affected units to identify any psv's lifting or incorrect line ups to the fuel gas system. Process engineering personnel concurrently began technical monitoring using Historian software to locate the source of the high H2S material. The sulfur dioxide emissions are reported as pounds per hour. The emissions occurred from 2:59am to 4:02am (1 hour and 3 minutes total).
1,072.8 pounds
139714

2012-05-14
Refinery Flare No. 3
Cause: While making observation rounds on May 14, 2012, operations identified a pin hole leak on the valve body of 70LV-149 (H-Oil unit). The operator immediately opened the bypass and isolated the 149 valve to stop the leak. As the bypass is smaller than the normal routing, this caused levels to build in upstream equipment.

Followup: Yes

Notes: In order to prevent an unsafe condition from the elevated levels, operations stabilized the unit by flaring. Reactor temperature and charge rates were reduced in order to control the level in the unit while operating on the bypass. Gases were contained in the Flare Gas Recovery until maximum operating pressures of the system required the refinery to flare. Immediately, the operating unit reduced charge to minimize the generation of gas routed to the flare. Control valve 70-LV-149 was replace in-kind on May 16, 2012. As a systemic learning from this incident, a long term solution to future problems will involve conducting an investigation using a third party contractor to understand the potential erosion/corrosion mechanism involved with this valve's failure. Motiva will use the results of this investigation to determine if the metallurgy of control valve 70-LV-149 and the surrounding bleeder, block, and isolation valves are appropriate or should be upgraded. Approximately 3,162 lbs in excess of authorized SO2 emissions. Initial report states material went offsite.
3,662.0 pounds
137390

2012-02-21
FLARE: Unspecified flare
Cause: There was an unexpected swing in the feed to the VPS-1 Unit causing an upset and flaring.

Followup: No

Notes: There is no information given regarding remedial actions taken.
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.
38,648.0 pounds
136871

2012-01-31
Unspecified SRU
Cause: There was an upset on the SRU caused by an unexpected swing in the acid gas feed to the sulfur unit causing excess SO2 emissions.

Followup: No

Notes: The leak was secured and they went back to normal operation.
151.0 pounds
152757

2013-12-06
West Side Fuel Gas Drum
Cause: On December 6, 2013, a sulfur dioxide release due to elevated hydrogen sulfide in the West Side Fuel Gas Drum.

Followup: No

Notes: This incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb reportable quantity for sulfur dioxide. After further calculation, the total sulfur dioxide emissions from this incident were not above the reportable quantity.
150490

2013-08-19
pump 4G-559
Cause: On August 19, 2013, a fire was experienced on pump 4G-559 due to a seal failure. HTU-1's recycle compressor tripped on high K.O. drum level. A decision was made to slowdown, stabilize, and shutdown. Part of the activities to slowdown included putting the CRU unit on hydrogen circulation; therefore, operations shutdown the CRU charge pumps, 4G-501/559. Shortly after the pumps were stopped, 4G-559 failed, and a seal fire occurred. After thorough investigation, the cause of the seal fire was determined to be the failure of a check valve on the discharge of 4G-559. When the charge pumps were stopped, the downstream hydrogen pushed the naptha in the line backwards through the discharge line. the check valve in the discharge line did not operate as designed and the naptha and hydrogen entered 4G-559 causing it to spin in reverse. This caused friction, heat, and vibration significant enough for the pump to seize. Under these conditions, a seal fire is expected.

Followup: Yes

Notes: The units were brought down in order to stabilize the situation. The materials involved in the fire were largely combusted, as were the materials routed to the flare; they were then dispersed naturally into the air. All residual unburned materials from the pump seal fire were captured by the unit secondary containment system and recycled back into the refinery's recovered oil system. A second check valve has been installed on the discharge line to provide an additional factor of safety against the potential failure of a single check valve.
221.0 pounds
148806

2013-05-18
Flare #3
Cause: On the morning of May 18, the H-Oil Unit was operating normally when emergency pressure control valve 70HV234 inadvertently opened. Operations immediately reduced charge to the unit and closed the emergency pressure control valve in an attempt to re-engage operation, which was unsuccessful. In order to prevent an unsafe condition from the elevated temperatures and levels in equipment, operations stabilized the unit by flaring and removing charge from the unit to start a controlled shutdown.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Operations immediately reduced charge to the unit and closed the emergency pressure control valve in an attempt to re-engage operation, which was unsuccessful. In order to prevent an unsafe condition from the elevated temperatures and levels in equipment, operations stabilized the unit by flaring and removing charge from the unit to start a controlled shutdown. After investigation, it was concluded that the restriction orifice in the valve positioner relay plugged causing air pressure from the valve positioner to the actuator to drop below the pressure threshold required to hold the valve closed. The replacement of a control valve positioner, filter, and air regulator will eliminate the recurrence of an identical event in the short term. The replacement of this equipment will be conducted during the 2013 H-Oil reactor entry shutdown which is currently underway. Motiva will complete the proposed replacements prior to completion of the 2013 H-Oil reactor entry shutdown. To reduce the likelihood of a similar event from occurring in the future, Motiva will inspect these components during subsequent H-Oil reactor entry turnarounds for evidence of plugging and replace equipment as necessary. The total amount of hydrogen sulfide does not exceed the RQ of 100 pounds, but the maximum lb/hr emissions limit was exceeded for the hours between 8 AM and 11 AM. The permitted rates and amount released above authorized emissions were listed, but not the exact total amounts emitted.
28,884.0 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.
148118

2013-04-16
TGTU-3
Cause: On April 16, 2013, Motiva Enterprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported a potential Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) release which occurred at the facility due to an operational upset on Motiva's Tail Gas Treating Unit 3 (TGTU-3). The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb reportable quantity (RQ) for SO2. However, the toal SO2 emissions from this incident were not above the RQ.

Followup: No

Notes:
147500

2013-03-22
TGTU-1 and TGTU-4
Cause: Sulfur dioxide was released from the Tail Gas Treatment Units No. 1 and No. 4 (TGTU-1 and TGTU-4). No reportable quantities were exceeded. No additional information was provided regarding the cause of problem or remedial actions taken.

Followup: Yes

Notes:
147188

2013-03-07
Tail Gas Treater Unit
Cause: On March 7, 2013, Motiva Enterprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported a potential sulfur dioxide release which occurred at the facility due to an operational upset on Motiva's Tail Gas Treatment Unit No.5 (TGTU-5). The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500 pound reportable quantity for sulfur dioxide. However, after further calculation, the total sulfur dioixde emissions from this incident were not above the RQ. A LADEQ report records that the sulfur dioxide released from the tail gas treater unit was due to an operational upset.

Followup: No

Notes:
146649

2013-02-13
FCCU WGS
Cause: Due to a rupture on a seal SO2 was released to air. The incident began at Motiva's Convent Refinery on February 13, 2013 at approximately 23:00, when the FCCU's Electric Quench Turbine experienced a trip. The FCCU experienced an upset which resulted in increased carbon monoxide emissions from the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit Wet Gas Scrubber Stack (FCCU WGS.) The excess emissions ceased when the FCCU stabilized.

Followup: Yes

Notes: Pressure controller that opened and caused flaring closed at 00:25...Flaring continues, stable... No high H2S releasing to flare at this time... The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total SO2 emissions from this incident were not above the RQ.
146167

2013-01-22
FCCU unit
Cause: On January 22, 2013, Motiva Convent Refinery Reported a potential sulfur dioxide (SO2) release which occured at the facility due to operational upset on the FCCU unit.

Followup: No

Notes: Initially reported sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide released to air during the upset. The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quaantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total SO2 emissions from this incident were not above the RQ.
146107

2013-01-18
H-oil unit
Cause: Operational upset on the H-Oil unit.

Followup: No

Notes: The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total SO2 emissions from this incident were not above the RQ.
160316

2014-11-29
Tail Gas Treatment Unit No 4
Cause: On November 29, 2014, Motiva Enterprises reported a potential sulfur dioxide release which occurred at the facility due to an operational upset on Motiva's Tail Gas Treatment Unit No 4 (TGTU-4). Motiva's Sulfur Recovery unit #1 tripped and diverted gas to the TGTU-4. There was too much feed to one unit to burn effectively and gas was routed to the incinerator stack. The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). However, after further calculation, the total SO2 emissions from this incident were not above the RQ.

Followup: No

Notes:
156354

2014-05-28
H-Oil Unit pump 70P-102
Cause: Motiva's H-Oil unit lost indication on pump 70P-102 resulting in a unit cut-back and associated flaring. The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500lb RQ for SO2, but subsequent calculations determined that the RQ was not exceeded. Both H2S and SO2 are thought to have escaped during this flare event.

Followup: No

Notes: Remediation not addressed. Report indicates that no one was injured or killed and no road closures occurred in connection with the incident.
No LDEQ Reported

2014-03-18
Flare Gas Recovery Area
Cause: On March 18, 2014, Motiva Enterprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported an upset of the Flare Gas Recovery Area that caused emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from flaring of hydrocarbons containing sulfur compounds. The incident was initially reported as a potential exceedance of the 500-lb Reportable Quantity for sulfur dioxide. This report states that sulfur dioxide emissions were not above reportable quantities.

Followup: No

Notes:
154126

2014-02-24
Train-100 heater passes on HTU-2
Cause: At approximately 15:31 on February 24, 2014, a scaffolding crew was dismantling a scaffold by Train-100 heater passes on HTU-2. The crew was using a hammer to remove a scaffolding bar. A worker swung his hammer and missed the scaffold and struck a 1/2" tubing on a flow transmitter. The tubing came out of the ferrel and nut releasing H2 and diesel-range hydrocarbons. The material released due to the tubing failure was hydrogen and diesel range hydrocarbons. In addition, elevated flaring occurred as the unit was brought down to stabilize the situation.

Followup: No

Notes: Follow-up was promised within 60 days. The unit was brought down in order to stabilize the situation and materials involved were routed to the flare.
153590

2014-01-28
Flare Gas Recovery Area
Cause: On January 28, 2014, Motiva Enterprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported an upset of the Flare Gas Recovery Area that caused emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from flaring of hydrocarbons containing sulfur compounds.

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva submitted on that the accident did not result in the exceedance of reportable quantity for SO2.
153688

2014-01-25

Cause: On January 25, 2014, Motiva Enterprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported an upset of the FCCU that caused emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the combustion and flaring of hydrocarbons containing sulfur compounds.

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva submitted a letter on 1/31/2014 stating that reportable quantity for SO2 was not exceeded.
153346

2014-01-08
H-Oil Unit
Cause: On January 8, 2014, Motiva Enterprises, LLC Convent Refinery (Motiva) reported an upset of the H-Oil Unit which caused emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the combustion and flaring of hydrocarbons containing sulfur compounds. At approximately 2:45 AM, the H-Oil Unit Fractionator Tower began to build a liquid level, due to the bottoms pump losing suction. The loss of forward flow from the fractionator tower bottoms up resulted in increased liquid level in the fractionator tower. While trying to re-establish suction to the pump, the pressure increased on the overhead of the Fractionation Tower.

Followup: No

Notes: While trying to re-establish suction to the pump, the pressure increased on the overhead of the Fractionation Tower. The pressure was relieved through automated controls and PSV's To Flare Relief and Fuel Gas Recovery (FGR) system. In order to prevent an unsafe condition from the elevated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and pressures in equipment, at 6:30 AM the stream was taken out of FGR and routed to Flare No. 3. The fuel gas H2S concentration remained elevated until approximately 6:40 AM. The system was stabilized by 2:10 PM when the stream was returend to FGR and Flaring at Flare No. 3 ceased. The incident was initially reported as a potential Reportable Quantity (RQ) exceedance. However, during the event, no release exceeding an RQ occurred. Therefore, Motiva is submitting this letter to clarify that the referenced incident did not result in an RQ exceedance and the verbal report made on January 8, 2014 should be considered a courtesy notification.