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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco
Releases in 2005
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source/Release | Cause | Notes |
| 84612 2005-12-15 | Point Source(s): Hydrogen and hydrocracker units Pollutant(s):Flammable Gas - 0 | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing An unexpected piping failure on an exchanger led to a release of Hydrogen and a subsequent shutdown of the hydrogen and hydrocracker units. | Operations personnel immediately took corrective actions to safely shut down the units and to minimize emissions. Data gathering and investigations to perform calculations and determine root cause is ongoing. |
| 84579 2005-12-14 | Point Source(s): Sanitary sewer line Pollutant(s):Wastewater - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Junction box in the main sewer line broke and the overflow material was discharged into Wastewater treatment system; overflow was traced to a blockage in the sewer line. | While a portion of the process was bypassed, Motiva noted that the material did receive treatment prior to discharge. |
| 84114 2005-11-24 | Point Source(s): Coker Unit Pollutant(s):Oil - 0 Hydrogen Sulfide - 0 Xylene - 0 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - 0 | Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure Incident was due to a level controller malfunction. | A level controller malfunctioned, allowing the liquid to go into a blowdown system which vents into the atmosphere. About 15 barrels of crude was released and contained. Unknown quantities of Xylene and Hydrogen Sulfide were released. |
| 83975 2005-11-18 | Point Source(s): GO-1 Processing Unit Pollutant(s):Benzene - 0 Carbon Monoxide - 0 Nitrogen Oxide - 0 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 0 | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given | Data gathering to perform calculations and determine root cause is ongoing. Follow-up report promised in initial report from 11/23/05; cannot be located on LDEQ database as of 07/18/13. |
| 83649 2005-10-29 | Point Source(s): Unit Main Air Blower, RCCU Flare (EPN 8-84) Pollutant(s):Nitrous Oxide - 371 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 3,991 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 2,125 pounds Particulate Matter - 43 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 1,040 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure RCCU experienced instrument protective function shutdown activation of the unit's MAB just prior to the release. There was low oil pressure detected, therefore the MAB shut down automatically. The RCCU is dependent on the MAB for functioning. | Following the release, all units were secured and steps were taken to minimize emissions to flare resulting from the release. To prevent recurrence, analysis of the dynamics of the MAB lube oil system will take place in addition to implementing mechanical improvements such as: Relocation of pressure transmitters on MAB turbine, reduction of trim on P-7035 governor valve, installation of a time delay in the ICS trip logic for MAB machine, replacement of bearing oil regulation during the next RCCU turnaround, and installation of a new control oil regulator during the next RCCU turnaround. |
| 83055 2005-10-13 | Point Source(s): Catalytic Reformer #1 Unit Pollutant(s):Benzene - 0 | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures During excavation activities with the construction of a new flare knockout pot at the CR-1 unit, liquid hydrocarbons were observed seeping into the excavation. | The area in question was previously investigated and it was determined that there was a single concentration of Benzene that exceeded the RECAP screening standard but fell below the MO-1 standard; there was a conference on 10 18 05 between Oliver Boyd and someone from the LDEQ division and it was agreed that since the area was being managed under the approved east site groundwater management program, no further assessment or action is warranted. |
| 83068 2005-10-12 | Point Source(s): GO-1 Elevated Flare Pollutant(s):Hydrogen Sulfide - 100 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 17,766 pounds Hexane - 5,014 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 165 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 280 pounds Particulate Matter - 53 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 83 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Flaring due to a process upset associated with the GO-1 Diethanolamine (DEA) treater tower. | Remedial actions: untreated dry gas sent to the refinery fuel gas system and flared; it is not yet known whether this was preventable because the cause is unknown. |
| 82888 2005-10-07 | Point Source(s): No information given Pollutant(s):Oil - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Piping flange began leaking due to overpressure releasing coke feed oil to soil. | Spill was cleaned using a vacuum truck and by removing contaminated soil and filling the area with fresh soil. |
| 82426 2005-09-25 | Point Source(s): Temporary tank Pollutant(s):Slop Oil - 126 gallons | Cause of Problem: Human Factors On 9/25/05, approximately 3 barrels of slop oil were released when a temporary tank was overfilled. The overfill occurred when an alternate route to the temporary tank remained open during the fill-up process. | The spill was contained using sand dikes. Vacuum trucks and soil remediation were utilized for clean-up. |
| 82376 2005-09-22 | Point Source(s): Coker Unit Pollutant(s):Benzene - 27 pounds Flammable Gas - 3,809 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Relief valve on the coker drum opened venting pollutant to atmosphere. | |
| 81957 2005-09-05 | Point Source(s): None Reported Pollutant(s): | Cause of Problem: Weather Startup activities were due to Hurricane Katrina. | Verbal notifications made at the request of the LA State Police on the date of incident; for monitoring procedures and operations relating to the hurricane. Consult PDF for more information. |
| 81720 2005-08-28 | Point Source(s): Wastewater treatment facility General facility Refinery Wastewater Treatment System (RWTS), LPDES Outfall 006; Pollutant(s):Wastewater - 0 Benzene - 0 Butadiene - 0 Flammable Hydrocarbons - 0 Nitrogen Oxide - 0 Sulfur Dioxide - 0 Untreated Stormwater - 0 | Cause of Problem: Weather Unanticipated bypasses of wastewater treatment facilities occurred due to Hurricane Katrina. | |
| 81376 2005-08-16 | Point Source(s): Tank A-410 (EPN 1021-95) Pollutant(s):Heavy Gas Oil - 7,405 gallons Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 700 pounds Naphthalene - 4 pounds Benzene - 0 pounds | Cause of Problem: Human Factors DU5 was starting up and the HGO routing to A-410 was changed from off-spec to the HGO treaters. During this time the bypass valve was left in the open position causing heavy gas oil to overflow from tank A-410 into the tank dike area. | Remedial actions: Operator immediately closed bypass to LCV-100. Flow to A-410 was stopped and level pumped down. Liquid in tank dike was removed via vacuum truck. Soil excavation was conducted. To prevent recurrence, Motiva plans to develop plans to improve level control scheme and alarm management. They also plan to install a concrete liner inside the tank's secondary containment dike. PDF includes soil analytical data for soil samples tested for extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH). |
| 81353 2005-08-16 | Point Source(s): Sanitary sewer lift station Wastewater treatment facility, LPDES Outfall 06 Pollutant(s):Sanitary Sewage - 50 gallons Sanitary Sewage - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures A portion of the treatment process for the released material was bypassed -- traced to maintenance work performed on 08/11/05 to install a conduit seal on the lift station; the lift station was incorrectly re-wired after the installation, which disabled the automatic start function of the lift station pump. | Control switch on sanitary lift station pump was switched from automatic to manual position, starting the pump and stopping overflow. A vacuum truck was used to removed the liquid from the lift station and prevent additional overflow. While a portion of the process was bypassed, Motiva noted that the material did receive treatment prior to discharg |
| 81012 2005-08-04 | Point Source(s): RCCU Flare (EPN #8-84), West Operations Ground Flare (WOGF- EPN 9-84) Pollutant(s):Slurry Oil - BRQ Benzene - 0 pounds Flammable Liquid - BRQ Nitrogen Oxide - 218 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 916 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 1,072 pounds Particulate Matter - 24 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 597 pounds Butadiene - 0 pounds Benzene - 0 pounds Toluene - 0 pounds Hexane - 1 pounds | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures "Maintenance was turning a blind when contents of the line began spraying from the line." Flaring occurred at the RCCU flare following the event during the RCCU unit startup. Additional downstream flaring occurred at the Shell Chemical LP GO-1 elevated flare and the Motiva West Operations Ground Flare. | Remedial actions: Vacuum trucks were deployed in attempt to capture the oil in the RCCU drainage system. Feed was immediately diverted from the unit. Flow into the main fractionator column was minimized while isolations were being made to the slurry circulation system. VSERT was activated to make positive isolation of the leak. Concerning recurrence prevention, Motiva's incident investigations group is investigation the incident and recommendations will be addressed. |
| 80785 2005-07-25 | Point Source(s): West Ops Ground Flare (EPN #9-84) Pollutant(s):Carbon Monoxide - 123 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 209 pounds Particulate Matter - 29 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 143 pounds Butadiene - 17 pounds Benzene - 8 pounds Toluene - 1 pounds | Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure An overhead analyzer and a differential pressure meter that normally monitor and control the propylene producing column were out of service for maintenance and inspection. Without these two indicators operations could not effectively tell if the column was operating properly. The production of unspecified product led to flaring. Flaring by GO-1 at Motiva's West Operations Ground Flare occurred due to Shell Chemical's GO-1 operations being asked to discontinue sending material to OL-5 until the process was back in control. | Called in by telephone on 07/25/2005 by Shell Chemical. Remedial actions: Material was flared at the West Ops Ground flare. Motiva maintains they were not in control of the incident and that a follow up letter was sent by Shell Chemical. |
| 80409 2005-07-08 | Point Source(s): Pollutant(s):Stormwater - 0 | Cause of Problem: Weather Due to Tropical Storm Cindy, heavy rainfall caused the SWIB to reach capacity, forced to open LPDES Outfall 002 to prevent flooding of the refinery. | Outfall 006 is permitted under the LPDES Permit to discharge "low contamination potential stormwater runoff." The outfall was monitored as required by the LPDES #LA0003522. Discharge was stopped on 07/09/05. |
| 80320 2005-07-06 | Point Source(s): Coker, HCU, West Op Ground flares Pollutant(s):Nitrous Oxide - 11 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 1,150 pounds Benzene - 3 pounds Cyclohexane - 3 pounds Butadiene - 26 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 171 pounds Ethylene - 604 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 30,271 pounds Flammable Gas - 39,743 pounds Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs) - 8,212 pounds Propylene - 2,808 pounds | Cause of Problem: Weather Power failures due to weather (Tropical Storm Cindy) caused various releases from Motiva sources; led to total loss of electrical instrument air compressors and the loss of several steam boilers that caused the shutdown of the HCU and RCCU process units. A voltage sag caused the Coker processor to shut down which resulted in a flaring event. | Motiva claims that this was not preventable because of the unforeseeable weather conditions. |
| 79889 2005-06-16 | Point Source(s): Sanitary sewer line serving the Central Refining Control Room Pollutant(s):Sanitary Sewage - 0 | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Sanitary sewer line serving the Central Refining Control Room became plugged, resulting in overflow of sewer clean-out hub. This sewage flowed into nearby stormwater drain. The sanitary sewage was routed to the refinery effluent treatment system and subsequently discharged through LPDES Outfall per permit. | Maintenance personnel were immediately notified. The line was unplugged and flow returned to normal. Motiva notes that although a portion of the treatment system was bypassed, the material did receive treatment prior to discharge. |
| 79812 2005-06-14 | Point Source(s): Shell Chemical GO-1 Processing Unit, GO-1 elevated flare Pollutant(s):Carbon Monoxide - 90 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 54 pounds Particulate Matter - 10 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 43 pounds 1,3-Butadiene - 3 pounds Benzene - 1 pounds Toluene - 0 | Cause of Problem: Power Failure Entergy was in the process of performing a periodic maintenance on relays at the Norco Substation. A relay tip occurred at the Norco Substation unexpectedly. The power outage resulted in the shutdown of two compressors in the Shell Chemical GO-1 Process Unit, resulting in flaring of process gases at the GO-1 Elevated Flare. | Operations personnel took immediate corrective actions to minimize the level of emissions; process gases were flared at West Op Ground flare until the compressors re-started and the G0-1 process units were back under control; Motiva maintained that the incident was not under their control, rather the control of Shell Chemical and Louisiana Holdings LLP |
| 78747 2005-05-03 | Point Source(s): Hydrocracker, Coker, CR-1 and NHT units Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 296 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 1,304 pounds | Cause of Problem: Human Factors The Coker, Hydrocrack, and CR-1 process units unexpectedly shut down due to a loss of 100# instrument air. The instrument air block valve on the line supplying the Coker, Hydrocracker, and CR-1 was mistakenly closed. An operator was instructed to close the 2" soft water valve for maintenance and operator mistakenly identified the 2" 100# instrument air valve as the 2" soft water valve. | Remedial actions involved shutting down the affected operating units; found that Sulfur Dioxide levels were exceeded from the HCU flare and Volatile Organic Compounds exceeded at the Coker Flare. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-04-15 | Point Source(s): Slop Oil sump (W-427) Pollutant(s):Oil - 20 gallons | Cause of Problem: Human Factors Power switch to high-level alaram and pump for W-247 were in "off" position while draining material from wharf's loading arm to sump, causing sump to overflow. | This is the follow up to the verbal notification on 04/14/05. Operator immediately restored power to W-427 pump, beginning drainage of sump into the slop oil header. Operations then activated the Site Oil Spill Team and OSRO Contractor ES&H to contain the material that was released into the Mississippi River. Oil booms and absorbant pads were used to recover the released Oily material; no remedial actions specified |
| 78205 2005-04-13 | Point Source(s): RCCU Flare (EPN #8-84) Pollutant(s):Nitrogen Oxide - BRQ Cyclohexane - BRQ Ethylbenzene - BRQ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - BRQ Hexane - BRQ Toluene - BRQ Xylene - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given. | No listed remedial actions |
| 77795 2005-03-23 | Point Source(s): hydrocracker unit, HCU Flare (EPN #4-84) Pollutant(s):Hydrogen - BRQ Hydrogen Sulfide - BRQ Nitrogen Oxide - BRQ Sulfur Dioxide - 66 pounds n-Hexane - 6 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 88 pounds | Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket A gasket on compressor K 1929's seal oil pot gauge glass was leaking, causing a loss of seal Oil level. Loss of level caused hydrocracker unit to trip out and require a shut down. | Remedial actions: Site supervisor was notified, unit was secured per procedures for shutdown. Gauge glass was inspected and it was found that the Jerguson valves did not contain ball checks; the ball checks were replaced. |
| 77688 2005-03-18 | Point Source(s): Ship Keystone Texas Pollutant(s):Particulate Matter - 0 | Cause of Problem: Other - See text Source of black material was the ship "Keystone Texas" leaving the Motiva dock while releasing a large amount of smoke out of its boilers during initial power build-up. This black soot settled over Norco. The source of the material was not Shell or Motiva. | Citizen complaint of a black oily particulate being released into the air. |
| 77472 2005-03-09 | Point Source(s): Tank A-405 Pollutant(s):Oil - 210 gallons | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures Tank A-405 was being emptied for inspection. After several truck loads of solids were removed, some products/solids splashed out of the manway onto the ground. Material which had adhered to the sidewall of the tank may have fallen into residual materials in the tank bottom, causing a wave of material to splash out of the manway. The material overfilled the secondary containment which had been placed under the manway. | The material was released to the soil and hydrocarbon vapors dispersed to the air naturally. Pumper trucks and clean up crews were immediately called to recover the oil. Upon completion of free-product removal, all stained soils were excavated. Soils that were removed were disposed of in the Motiva on-site landfill. |
| 77395 2005-03-05 | Point Source(s): None Reported Pollutant(s): | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Incident due to an upset at the GO-1 process unit. | Potential permit limit exceedence from the West Ops Ground Flare (EPN #9-84). Follow-up report promised as of 03/11/05; cannot be located on LDEQ database as of 07/17/13. |
| 77243 2005-02-27 | Point Source(s): Alkylation Unit Control Room Sanitary Sewer Discharge Line Pollutant(s):Sanitary Sewage - 0 | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Sanitary Sewage discharge line serving the Alkylation Unit Control Room became plugged, causing water to overflow to effluent system. | Sewage was diverted from normal treatment to the refinery wastewater treatment system due to a clogged pipe. The clogged pipe was repaired within 24 hours and flow was returned to normal. Motiva noted that even though a portion of the treatment system was bypassed, the material did receive some treatment prior to discharge. |
| 76671 2005-02-02 | Point Source(s): OL-5 Ground Flare, FG-101 Pollutant(s):Nitrogen Oxide - BRQ Carbon Monoxide - BRQ Particulate Matter - BRQ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - BRQ 1,3-Butadiene - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Level controller on the BD5 Solvent Column was not functioning properly as solvent recovery column was pressuring up. | Level controller was repaired and returned to service. During the repair there was some flaring. |
| 76677 2005-02-01 | Point Source(s): Pollutant(s):Wastewater - 0 | Cause of Problem: Weather Norco area experienced heavy rainfall; Motiva was forced to open LPDES Outfall 006 as a result, in order to prevent flooding to the refinery. | |
| 76659 2005-01-31 | Point Source(s): Sanitary sewer discharge line Pollutant(s):Sewage - 0 gallons | Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket A leak developed on the sanitary sewer discharge line serving the Central Maintenance Shop due to the failure of the connecting nipple between the discharge piping and the sewer drain line. The sanitary sewage was routed to the refinery wastewater treatment system and subsequently discharged through LPDES Outfall 002, bypassing a portion of the treatment process. | A vacuum truck was stationed at the location to collect additional sanitary sewage which might be released during repair operations. Repairs to the line were completed and flow returned to normal on February 2, 2005. |
| 76388 2005-01-23 | Point Source(s): Hydrocracker unit Pollutant(s):Flammable Gas - BRQ Benzene - BRQ Hydrogen Sulfide - BRQ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Flame and pilots failed on the hydrocracker flare during unit decontamination. | The flare was relit and the unit was returned to normal operation. |
| 76386 2005-01-22 | Point Source(s): Hydrocracker unit, HCU Flare (EPN #4-84 Hydrocracker unit Pollutant(s):Hydrogen - BRQ n-Hexane - 0 Flammable Gas - 0 | Cause of Problem: Other - See text This incident is a normal part of a turnaround. Before the Hydrocracker can be worked on, it must be cleared of hydrocarbon. This is done by venting the unit to the flare and later to the atmosphere. This venting is considered a normal but infrequent part of plant operation. | |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-01-03 | Point Source(s): Tank w-406 (EPN #1086-95) Pollutant(s):Benzene - 0 | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No information given | Data gathering and calculations ongoing. Follow-up letter promised. |
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