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Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

Releases of Sulfuric Acid

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date		 Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
107997

2008-08-13		Alkylation Unit pump
Cause: see notes. Fresh acid leak on suction side of a pump.

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ and did not create reportable emergency conditions
107837

2008-08-06		Hose at the Water Treatment Plant
Cause: a pump suction hose ruptured.

Followup: No

Notes: Although acid entered a stormwater drainpipe and flowed into an open ditch and culvert to the south, Motiva states that there was no offsite impact. Motiva's Process Engineering Dept conducted an evaluation of the hose and recommended a more compatible hose type (Stallion Acid-Chemical resistant Teflon-lined hose). New hose installed 8/7/08. In addition, Motiva's Pressure Integrity Inspection group will conduct a weekly visual inspection of the hose. Release exceeded the 1,000 pound reportable quantity for sulfuric acid		188.0 gallons
116293

2009-07-07		protection suit
Cause: Worker burned on wrist by sulfuric acid residue during decontamination procedure after repairing a sulfuric acid leak in a tank unit. Small amount of acid was on the duct tape holding his gloves connected to the suit and came into contact with his skin.

Followup: No

Notes: Worker treated at St. Elizabeth hospital with "minor injuries" & discharged. No letter or report filed by Motiva.
153515

2014-01-22		Alky Unit
Cause: On January 22, 2014 Motiva Enterprises LLC (Motiva) Convent Refinery reported a release with injury due to sulfuric acid leak on the Alky Unit. Motiva reported the incident as per LAC 33:V.10111. B as it was unknown at the time of the even if the injured personnel would require emergency treatment. However, the injured person was assessed by Motiva Medical and received first-aid treatment only. The incident did not constitute an emergency condition as per LAC 33:I.3195 or as defined in LAC 33:I.3905, as it did not endanger the health and safety of the public, cause significant adverse impact to the land, water or air environment, or cause severe damage to property. The release of sulfuric acid did include some entrained hydrocarbons, was contained within secondary containment (the unit containment system). The entrained hydrocarbons included C3 through C8 hydrocarbons; however, based on process engineering calculations, there was no reportable quantity release of the hydrocarbons. Therefore the release was not an unauthorized discharge exceeding a reportable quantity as per LAC 33:I.3917.

Followup: No

Notes: Motiva's report states that the release of sulfuric acid was contained within the unit containment system. The report also refers to a previous report regarding the worker's injury which was not included in this documentation. There is no detail as to how and why the accident occurred and how it could be prevented in the future nor how the spillage in the unit containment system was disposed of. The spill is recorded as below reportable quantity yet there was still enough to cause worker injury.