LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

Releases in 2010

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source/Release	Cause	Notes
128236 2010-12-20	Point Source(s): FLARE: Flare #3 Pollutant(s): Heavy Cycle Gas Oil - 130 gallons Sulfur Dioxide - 737 pounds	Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure 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.	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.
128271 2010-12-18	Point Source(s): Flange: H-Oil Unit Pollutant(s): Hydrogen - BRQ Light Cycle Gas Oil - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure LDEQ states that a leak at a flange occurred, causing a hydrogen and light cycle oil cloud to develop while bringing the unit up.	BRQ. Refinery letter states that "detailed calculations performed...and that no RQ exceedence" occurred." Temperature and pressure were reduced so that the flange could be bolted, and the leak could be stopped.
127630 2010-11-14	Point Source(s): FLARE: Flare #3 [19G-301] Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - 5,486 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 12 pounds	Cause of Problem: Process Upset 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).	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.
126983 2010-10-10	Point Source(s): No Information Given Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Process Upset "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.	BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded. No remedial actions mentioned.
126812 2010-09-21	Point Source(s): VPS-2 Atmospheric Feed Heater (EPN 83H-101) Pollutant(s): Hydrogen Sulfide - 0	Cause of Problem: No Information Given During shutdown of ARU-1 Train 2 for maintenance activities, refinery experienced an increase in H2S entering waste gas system. Mixed with refinery fuel gas and low steam ratio resulted in H2S concentration exceedance. Letter states that this was an apparent exceedance of H2s emission standard in Permit No 2560-00001-V8.	Refinery operators increased steam to ARU-1 and exceedance ceased. No information given regarding the amount released/exceeded.
125072 2010-07-22	Point Source(s): Tubing Pollutant(s): Hydrogen - 0 Hydrogen Sulfide - 0	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing "tubing to the instrument broke and releasing H2 and H2S."	No information given.
124055 2010-06-08	Point Source(s): unspecified pipeline Pollutant(s): Crude Oil - 0	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing LDEQ report states that "crude line had a leak. An out of service tank water draw down line leaked an oil/water mixture."	"Area was diked, vacuum trucks removed liquid, contaminated soil was removed for disposal. Line to be blinded and isolated." No additional information given. LDEQ report only. No refinery letter in file.
123431 2010-05-13	Point Source(s): unspecified piping Pollutant(s): Naphtha - 84 gallons	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Pinhole leak in 8" pipe in a pipe rack.	Will clamp and remove pipe, liquid vacuumed, impact area isolated, soil will be excavated, profiled, and disposed. LDEQ report only. No refinery letter.
121331 2010-02-06	Point Source(s): No Information Given Pollutant(s): Flammable Gas - 1,000 pounds	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing "Hole in a process line in a crude unit." Flammable gas noted but no info given as to what chemicals were released.	No information given regarding remedial actions. State Police Hazmat report only. No LDEQ or refinery report in file.
120756 2010-01-13	Point Source(s): unspecified hydrogen pipe Pollutant(s): Hydrogen - 0	Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Hydrogen pipe leaked and caught fire. State Police Hazmat report states that material did go offsite. FIRE.	Fire extinguished by on-site personnel, leak secured, air monitors at perimeter of facility read zero. State Police Hazmat report only. No LDEQ or refinery letter in file.