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Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent
Releases in 2005
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source/Release | Cause | Notes |
| 84764 2005-12-24 | Point Source(s): Steam Boilers 31F-801, 31F-802, 31F-803, 31F-805, and 31F-810 Pollutant(s):Nitrogen Oxide - 92 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Steam Boiler 31F-810 tripped (shutdown) at approx 03:56 In order to stabilize and maintain the refinery steam system, the firing rates and subsequent steam production from 801, 802, 803, and 805 boilers were increased and adjusted over the next 35 hours. Maintaining the refinery steam system is critical in continuing the operation of process units and potentially preventing environmental incidents from any abrupt unit shutdown or malfunction. The 810 boiler shutdown when erratic air flow readings into the boiler were detected because ambient conditions caused false pressure readings on the air flow monitors, which, in turn, caused the forced draft fans to shutdown. The shutdown of the forced draft fans initiated an instrment protective func | [Final report] Immediate action was taken to ensure the safe operability of the 810 boiler, and the process for restarting the boiler began as soon as all safety and operability concerns were addressed. The 810 Boiler was refired and began producing plant steam on the afternoon of 12/25/05, and the normal operation of steam boilers resumed and excess Nitrogen Oxide emissions ceased. For the 810 Boiler, a project s being implemented to install a more reliable air measurement device, which will be finalized once proven over the operating range of the boiler. The operating constraints for 801, 802, 803, and 805 Boilers are being updated to reflect the environmental requirements for those boilers" |
| 84733 2005-12-22 | Point Source(s): Vacuum Pipestill Unit #2 Pollutant(s):Xylene - BRQ Naphthalene - BRQ Flammable Volatile Organic Compounds - 140 pounds Kerosene - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No Information Given | Leak was contained within the unit and routed to oily-water sewer (DOW) so no kerosene was released to soil or water. The volume of kerosene leaked and the subsequent air emissions were calculated and found to be less than 100-pounds (lbs) for each compound, xylene (10 lbs) and naphthalene (15 lbs). Therefore, the 100-pound RQs for both constituents were not exceeded. Additionally, the 1,000-lb LSP flammable material RQ was not exceeded, as 140 lbs of flammable VOC was emitted to the atmosphere. |
| 84578 2005-12-14 | Point Source(s): Water treatment facilities - temporary tanks and secondary containment berm system Pollutant(s):2% Soda Ash - 20 gallons | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures At approximately 12:30 P.M. on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 a 2% soda ash (sodium carbonate) solution in water (with a negligible concentration of chlorides), overfilled temporary tanks and the surrounding secondary containment berm system Operations personal were taking the permanent fresh soda ash tank out of service for a planned maintenance inspection and turnaround. The soda ash was being pumped into temporary tanks, where it will be stored during the turned around. The total volume of the temporary tanks, which were provided by a third party, was less than the volume of the permanent tank and less than the volume that Motiva was anticipating when the tanks were ordered. Operations personnel were not physically observing the transfer when the incident began. The soda as overflowed the temporary tanks and the secondary containment berms around the temporary tanks, resulting in the spillage of approximately 20 gallons to the uncontaminated storm water system. | Upon discovery of the overflow, operations personnel shut down the pump. The soda ash solution, which has a high pH, is normally treated in the wastewater treatment plant prior to discharge. The storm water pond does not discharge water to the S. James Canal continuously. Due to the large volume of water in the pond and the small volume of soda ash solution, tests of the storm water yielded acceptable results and Motiva did not have to treat the storm water prior to discharge. |
| 83531 2005-10-29 | Point Source(s): HTU-2 Fire and Release from recycle Compressor Pollutant(s):Lubricating Oil - 10 gallons Particulate Matter 10 - 1 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 6 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 12 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 31 pounds | Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket At approximately 10:25 am on 10/29/05, there was a small fire on 14C-201 recycle compressor on HTU-2. A small fire was ignited by lube oil escaping the seals on the turbine outboard bearing cap onto the turbine case which was in full operation during the leak. It appears that the lube oil reservoir overfilled which impeded flow through the lube oil return line back to the reservoir. | The fire was immediately extinguished by operations using a fixed fire monitor. Due to the fire the hydrogen system on the unit had to be depressured to the flare resulting in flaring for several minutes. The unit was depressured for repair. Incident is under investigation using Triangle of Prevention program. Mitigations are likely to be a combination of engineering, i.e. different technology for measuring levels and revising procedure No reportable quantities were exceeded. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-10-25 | Point Source(s): SASTU and aeration basin Pollutant(s):Process Wastewater - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Shutdown of forward flow due to sulfuric acid in the wastewater syste | Will update status of incident in October DMR including volume of the transfer into south surge pond and sampling and monitoring results. Due to the shutdown of the forward flow through the process treatment system and the low pH the biological system was exposed to, we have experienced some biological die off. May see a spike in BOD and other parameters until biological system returns to full healt |
| 82477 2005-09-26 | Point Source(s): Hydrotreating Unit #2 Pollutant(s):Hydrogen - 5,910 pounds | Cause of Problem: Corrosion The tubing failed due to its susceptibility to Chloride cracking. The combination of Chlorides, H2O, stress, and stainless steel tubing created a condition that allowed stress corrosion cracking to occur in the Inside Diameter (ID). | The immediate air was evacuated, as IES and Motiva's emergency response staff responded to the incident. Air monitoring detected no off site impact. Release was stopped via water suppression and installation of valves at each release point. Motiva will verify that the material to replace the tubing is appropriate in resistance to stress, H2O and Chloride cracking. Will determine the presence of the tubing on HTU-2 documenting the items for replacement. Will establish a risk assessment criteria to identify and replace tubing that is high risk for ID initiated stress and corrosion cracking. Follow-up report: reported relese did exceed the 1,000 pound RQ for flammable gas |
| 82602 2005-09-24 | Point Source(s): Flares 1 and 2 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Oxides - BRQ Nitrogen Oxide - BRQ Hydrogen Sulfide - BRQ Volatile Organic Compounds - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Weather Related to Hurricane Rita but no information given | telephone report have estimated exceedances of Sox Nitrogen Oxide Hydrogen Sulfide and Volatile Organic Compoundss |
| 82593 2005-09-24 | Point Source(s): Dirty Oil Water sewer system Pollutant(s):Oil and Process Waste Water - 85 gallons | Cause of Problem: Weather Heavy rains and flooding conditions from Hurricane Rita caused the DOW sewer system to overflow the process slabs thereby allowing material to enter the Clean Storm Water Sewer System. | Sheen of oil discovered in stormwater ditch, stormwater pond and canal leading to St. James drainage system. Placed absorbent booms and spill containment booms and vacuum trucks were used to remove hydrocarbon release. Follow up report will inlcude testing results of samples taken from the storm water pond and canal. |
| 82599 2005-09-23 | Point Source(s): Process Wastewater Treatment Unit Pollutant(s):Process Water - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Weather Excessive rainfall from Hurricane Rita resulted in the Process WasteWater treatment Unit tank filling to storm water surge capacity. In order to alleviate flowing within the refinery and maximize flow throught he treatment system the final pressures and filters of the WWTU were bypassed. | In order to ensure that permit limits are not exceeded, Motiva carefully monitors the bypass as long as it is occurring. |
| 81712 2005-08-28 | Point Source(s): None Reported Pollutant(s): | Cause of Problem: Weather Flaring resulting from a total shutdown of the refinery in preparation for Hurricane Katrina and restart of the refinery after storm damage had been repaire | Any permit deviations of additional information will be reported in the 3rd quarter Condition R Title V deviation report and the semi-annual Title V certification. |
| 81465 2005-08-18 | Point Source(s): Alkylation Unit Pollutant(s):Flammable Gas - 2,758 pounds | Cause of Problem: Corrosion Leak in the piping downstream of a static mixer near the depropanizer in the alkylation unit. Caustic is injected upstream of the static mixer to neutralize sulfuric acid in the static mixer. There is a bypass line for bypassing the mixer. Since the bypass line was not being used at the time of the incident, caustic was not being injected directly into the bypass line. A small amount of sulfuric acid leaked through a closed valve and accumulated in a dead leg in the bypass line. Over time, the material in the dead leg thinned until it failed, causing the leak. | Telephone report indicated both flammable gas and sulfuric acid mist were being released, but after investigation determined that release point was downstream of a static mixer, where caustic is used to neutralize any residual sulfuric acid in the process. Air monitoring around the hot spot were zero. Installed a clamp on the leak to completely stop it. Installed blinds and removed equipment to isolate the leaking line. Reevaluating inspection programs based on lessons learned from this incident. Motiva determined that the bypass line is not necessary and has removed most of this bypass line |
| 81428 2005-08-17 | Point Source(s): VPS 2 Flammable Gas release Pollutant(s):Flammable Gas/Light Crude - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Leak from an instrument tubing line on the VPS-2 Atmospheric Tower | Perimenter air monitoring shows zero. No offsite complaints. |
| 81365 2005-08-16 | Point Source(s): Mississippi River Docks 1&2 Fire Water Pump 33G-5 and 33G-4 Pollutant(s):Nitrogen Oxide - 18,141 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Experiencing problems with electric and diesel raw water pumps and need to use fire water diesel pumps to supply raw water to raw water treatment plant. | Are developing a tracking system to monitor more closely the operation of all diesel fired equipment. Dock 1 electric pumps are scheduled to be replaced with new pumps by the end of 2005. The site has received from the LADEQ an air permit variance to cover the emissions from these pumps for the remainder of 2005. |
| 81303 2005-08-14 | Point Source(s): Service water line in Plant 21 near the HGU process unit Pollutant(s):Service Water - 980 gallons | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Leak in service water line that eventually discharged into St. James Canal | Installation of a clamp over the leak. Storm water pond will be monitored during discharge. |
| 80774 2005-07-24 | Point Source(s): TGTU-4 Stack Plume Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given | None |
| 80414 2005-07-08 | Point Source(s): Pump 14P-305 Pollutant(s):Diesel Fuel - 200 gallons Particulate Matter 10 - 0 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 5 pounds Sulfur Oxides - 0 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 1 pounds | Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket At approximately 7:35 pm smoke was observed coming from the HTU-2 area. Unit operations personnel subsequently discovered a fire on pump 14P-305 originating from the pump's outboard seal. | The event was localized in the refinery. Pump was isolated from associated process units so as not to affect unit operations. No reportable quantities were exceeded. |
| 80342 2005-07-06 | Point Source(s): Service Water Line in Plant 21 near the HGU process unit Pollutant(s):Service Water - 700 gallons | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing -Leak in service water line that eventually discharges into St. James Canal | Installation of a clamp over the leak. Storm water pond will be monitored during discharge. |
| 80501 2005-06-23 | Point Source(s): Flare #3 (19G-301) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Oxides - 25,773 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 49 pounds | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Start up of HGU Unit - the detection and repair of an analyzer regulator and a plugged level-control valve for a knock out dru | Stationed an operator to manually observe the levels. Diverted the stream from the flare to the Sulfur Recovery Unit. Steamed the plugged level control to remove any obstruction. Will review and improve Start up preparation and procedures to minimizethe likelihood and quanitity of excess emissions from similar causes in the future. Motiva will also examine and change the level control valve inspection and preventative maintenance procedures as necessary. |
| 79910 2005-06-16 | Point Source(s): Plant 21 Piperack Pollutant(s):Hydrogen - 261 pounds | Cause of Problem: Human Factors A welder in the Plant 21 Piperack released his electrode holder to suspend from the pipe as he maneuvered in the piperack. The electrode contracted a 1/2-inch instrumentation line on a hydrogen line and subsequently arced. The arcing caused the electrode to melt a small hole in the instrumentation line. The welder noticed this caused a gas release/fire. The welder notified the shift coordinator, who in-turn notified the shift superintendent. | The immediate area was evacuated, as IES and Motiva's emergency response staff responded to the incident. Off-site air monitoring was conducted for hazardous vapors, but there was no apparent off-site impact. The release and fire were stopped via water suppression and blocking-in a valve up-flow from the release point. Several actions will be taken to prevent future recurrences. Communications between Operations, Safety and contractor personnel will be more clear and detailed in regards to the work area, safety issues, and countermeasures. More thorough inspection of each work area will be conducted while determining safety hazards and necessary countermeasures. Primarily, the welder will take care in movement and placement of the electrode during and after use, so as to not inadvertently contact components causing an arc. |
| 79646 2005-06-07 | Point Source(s): Flares from trip in Flare Case Compressor System Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Shutdown of refinery's Flare Gas Compressor System resulted in unplanned flaring | Courtesy notice. |
| 79533 2005-06-02 | Point Source(s): Wet Gas Scrubber Crane Outrigger Project Pollutant(s):Groundwater Contamination - 0 gallons | Cause of Problem: Under Investigation Under Investigation | Currently assessing the nature and extent groundwater contamination. |
| 83847 2005-05-18 | Point Source(s): HTU-1 Heat Exchanger Pollutant(s):Propylene - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No Information Given | Courtesy notice. |
| 79188 2005-05-18 | Point Source(s): A stack on the TGTU-4 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given | Originally reported on telephone as excess emissions of Sulfur Dioxide. Follow up report: RQ not exceeded. |
| 78883 2005-05-07 | Point Source(s): Valve in the H-Oil Unit and associated Flares Pollutant(s):Sulfur Oxides - BRQ Nitrogen Oxide - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given see notes. Vaccum residuum and gas oil release form valve in H-Oil Unit | The liquid hydrocarbon released was contained in the unit's concrete slab and did not reach the soil outside of the unit. The flaring related to the incident will continue until the unit has been safely restarted. |
| 79534 2005-05-03 | Point Source(s): Flares Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Other see notes. A power dip caused shutdown of many units on east side of refinery | POWER FAILURE. Courtesy notice. |
| 79076 2005-04-14 | Point Source(s): Trip of a recycle gas compressor in the H-Oil Unit and resulting flares Pollutant(s):Nitrogen Oxide - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given | Courtesy notice. |
| 78286 2005-04-14 | Point Source(s): Service Water Line Pollutant(s):Service Water - 900 gallons | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Service water line developed a leak onto the ground which drains to storm water pond which eventually drains into the St. James Canal | A clamp will be installed on the leaking line. Storm water pond will be monitroed during discharge and is not expected to exceed any permit parameters. |
| 78024 2005-04-05 | Point Source(s): Brine Pit Sump at Sorrento Storage Facility Pollutant(s):Process Water - 0 pounds | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures Brine Pit Sump leaked rose above normal levels due to maintenance being performed in the brine disposal well. | Testing of spilled material reflected very low chloride level. Material released and contained in immediate area, collected and returned to brine pit. Repairs of the sump planned for 4/18/05. Future work on the injection well pump will be coordinatored to ensure that the brine pit does not exceed acceptable leve |
| 77568 2005-03-12 | Point Source(s): Flange connection on a reactor that was prepared for maintenance Pollutant(s):Nitrogen - BRQ Hydrogen - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures Fire occurred during shutdown of HTU-3 unit. Maintenance personnel were cutting bolts with an acetylene torch with a mixture of Nitrogen and Hydrogen was released causing fire. | Fire immediately extinguished. |
| 77108 2005-02-22 | Point Source(s): Nearby washing area Pollutant(s):Runoff of Rust Colored Water - 10 pounds | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given | Originally reported as F-037 Primary Spearation Sludge |
| 77115 2005-02-19 | Point Source(s): VPS 2 Unit Pollutant(s):Light Cycle Gas Oil - 1 gallons | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Fire orginated during start up of VPS 2 Unit. Fire originated on piping insulation that was soaked with Light Cycle Gas Oi | Fire was immediately extinguished. |
| 76633 2005-01-31 | Point Source(s): Fresh water system Pollutant(s):Fresh Water - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Other see notes. Leak in the fresh water system adjacent to the brine system. | originally reported on telephone as leak in salt water system aproximately 1 barrel which would have been in exceedance of reportable quanitity. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-01-27 | Point Source(s): TGTU No. 5 Incinerator Stack Pollutant(s):Particulate Matter - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Loss of a boiler and corresponding loss of steam availability | Has not completed an investigation of this incident and final determination still pending. |
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