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Valero (1238), Meraux
Releases in 2005
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source/Release | Cause | Notes |
| 82713 2005-10-01 | Point Source(s): Tank 200-1 Pollutant(s):Volatile Organic Compounds - 122 pounds Gasoline - 210 gallons | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Malfunction of the roof drain | The refinery is considering replacing the kickstand roof drains. |
| 81927 2005-09-03 | Point Source(s): Tank 250-2 Pollutant(s):Benzene - 1,801 pounds n-Hexane - 10,448 pounds Cyclohexane - 3,603 pounds Ethylbenzene - 1,441 pounds Toluene - 4,683 pounds Xylene - 7,205 pounds Oil - 1,049,706 gallons | Cause of Problem: Weather STORM: The water pushed the tank from its foundation. Refinery report states that 17,962 barrels of oil were recovered from the spilled tank, with approximately 7,031 barrels lost to atmosphere via evaporation. | RQ. Refinery letter states that all "visibly impacted" soil was removed for off-site disposal. "Murphy Oil continues to clean all neighboring properties, as determined by EPA-monitored sampling activities." |
| 81285 2005-08-15 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit #5 - 00 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 27,860 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 341 pounds | Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure Malfunction of temperature monitor resulted in a shutdown | There were 28 complaint calls made to the refinery! |
| 81253 2005-08-12 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 1,535 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Fluctuating acid gas rates from steam system | Turned down the system and got the flow to where it should be. |
| 81118 2005-08-09 | Point Source(s): #3 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (#5-00) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 1,164 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure A faulty solenoid in the main curner gas control valve caused the release | They replaced the part |
| 80945 2005-07-31 | Point Source(s): North Flare 20-72 #2 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (1-93) No information given Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 82,094 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 4,427 pounds Particulate Matter - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Malfunction in the power supply to the control panel's Process Logic Controller card | Followed procedures for emergency shutdown. |
| 81136 2005-07-28 | Point Source(s): Fugitive Emissions Pollutant(s):Volatile Organic Compounds - 344 pounds | Cause of Problem: Weather Power interruption because of severe weather. Untreated waste water routed to #2 API Separator | They say it was unpreventable, as |
| 80857 2005-07-28 | Point Source(s): Fugitive Emissions Pollutant(s):Volatile Organic Compounds - 125 pounds Particulate Matter - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Failed tubing to a pressure guage in the Distillate Hydrotreater Unit caused a fire | The report says hydrocarbons were released but does not say which one. |
| 80591 2005-07-18 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 12,069 pounds Particulate Matter - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Solids in the #2 SWS Overhead Receiver plugged the vessel's suction line | They steamed the lines to clear them. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-07-11 | Point Source(s): Outfall 003 Pollutant(s):Process Water - 5,400,000 gallons Sulfides - 0 pounds Phenol - 0 pounds Oil - 0 pounds Grease - 0 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Loss of sump pumps in the wastewater treatment plant cooling tower and piping system problems. Opened Outfall 003 (Emergency Stormwater Outfall) to the 20 Arpent Canal. Wastewater storage capacity was not available due to prior storm events. | Murphy Oil set up temporary lines and pumps to bypass the plugged wastewater treatment plant biororeactor charge lines reworked sump pumps and returned lines and pumps to service. Chemicals in discharged stormwater and process water included ammonia, sulfides, phenol, oil and grease in undisclosed quanitities. |
| 80466 2005-07-11 | Point Source(s): South Flare Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 9,809 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Maintenace bypass switch on the UPS unit malfunctioned. | The report has conflicting information about duration of the event and the point source. Page 2 says it was the north flare and the SRU Incinerator, but the p. 4 emissions details say south flare. The info entered here is from the last page. |
| 80323 2005-07-06 | Point Source(s): North Flare South Flare #2 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator #1-93 #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator #5-00 No information given Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 11,804 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 12,816 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 53 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 226 pounds Particulate Matter - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Weather On 7/6/05 Murphy Oil experienced a refinery-wide power interruption. During the shutdown and ensuing startup, the refinery experienced elevated sulfur dioxide and intermittent particulate emissions at the flares and the Sulfur Recovery Unit incinerator stacks. The power outage was apparently the result of high winds generated by Tropical Storm Cindy. | Immediate action was to safely get the units stabilized and try to avoid damage to equipment during the emergency shutdown. To ensure a safe restart, the refinery purged rich amine from #1 and #2 Amine units and the #2 Sour Water Stripper to the flares. The refinery minimized SO2 emissions during startup by having the #2 and #3 SRUs pre-heated prior to introduction of acid gas. Received two citizen complaints. Took steps to minimize emissions for the re start. |
| 80276 2005-07-03 | Point Source(s): #3 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (#5-00) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 288 pounds | Cause of Problem: Weather Makeup gas compressor in the Hydocracking Unit malfunctioned due to a lightening strike | Followed standard procedures to re start operations. |
| 79999 2005-06-21 | Point Source(s): South Flare No information given Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 38,664 pounds Particulate Matter - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Wire shorted | There was also a power failure - seem to be 2 causes of the problem. The release took place on two days - 6/21 and then 126 lbs on 6/23 when they re started. There were seven complaint calls. |
| 79847 2005-06-15 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 20,520 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Malfunction of the steam trap allowed condensate into the Amine unit reboiler, triggering a series of events resulting in the incident | Steam trap repaired |
| 79446 2005-05-30 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 3,133 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Blown fuses at the hydrotreater charge pump | Faulty fuses replaced |
| 79082 2005-05-16 | Point Source(s): #3 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (#5-00) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 1,351 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Malfunctioning valve positioner on the main air valve | The valve positioner has been replaced. Appear to be 2 incident #'s. The second is. 05-03210 |
| 77899 2005-03-30 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 #3 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (#5-00) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 14,048 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 248 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Malfunction of the level transmitter on the #2 Amine Acid Gas Knockout Drum | Replaced level transmitter. |
| 77748 2005-03-21 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 #3 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (#5-00) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 11,067 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 159 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure A fuse was blown during the replacement of a faulty solenoid on the city gas control valve at the incinerator | There appear to be two state police #'s for this report. The other is 05-01888. Solenoid failure and fuse malfunction have been dealt with, as these were the cause of the problems. |
| 77705 2005-03-20 | Point Source(s): #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Bypass of #2 Amine gas to the SOUTH FLARE Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 319 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 10,625 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Faulty alarm in the Distributed Control System | Reviewed all of its alarm systems. |
| 77339 2005-03-03 | Point Source(s): None Reported Pollutant(s): | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Sudden surge in liquids in the DHT overhead receiver | Drained the liquids and re started the unit. There seem to be two state id #'s for this one, too. The other is 05-01485 |
| 77339 2005-03-03 | Point Source(s): North Flare North Flare 20-72 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 705 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 705 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure automatic shutdown of the Sour Gas Compressor in the Distillate Hydrotreater | Says they will submit a more complete report by Monday, March 14 |
| 77051 2005-02-21 | Point Source(s): #2 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (1-93) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 15,503 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure When they tried to re start after the following problem, they found a number of "mechanical problems," like plugged packing and a leak in a valve | Two incidents were listed in one report |
| 77051_a 2005-02-19 | Point Source(s): North Flare 20-72 Pollutant(s):Particulate Matter - BRQ Sulfur Dioxide - 38,367 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Hydorbarbon breakthrough from the Amine Unit to the SRU due to plugging in the Tail Gas Treater (TGT) | Replaced packing and a valve in the Tail Gas Treater |
| 77058 2005-02-19 | Point Source(s): #2 Sour Gas Incinerator (emissions were routed there) Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 125 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure in the Tail Gas Treater. The notes say that there are maintenance problems, but that's because of troubles with the equipment. | Follow up report promised within five days. |
| 77020 2005-02-18 | Point Source(s): North Flare 20-72 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 13,397 pounds | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures of the Sour Gas Compressor in the Distillate Hydrotreater | No information Given |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-02-11 | Point Source(s): #2 Sulfur Recover Unit Incinerator (1-93) #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator (5-00) North Flare 20-72 South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 Pollutant(s):Particulate Matter - BRQ Sulfur Dioxide - 488 pounds Particulate Matter - BRQ Sulfur Dioxide - 8,095 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 56,871 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Power failure due to Entergy's loss of power | There are two state police numbers on this report thought only the 00969 one seems to be discussed. I have thus listed only that #. This is a follow up report for the power failure on 2/11. It does say smoke was intermittent, perhaps all releases were. The report also notes a re start date of 2/20 but there are no emissions listed for that date. The report on 4/4/05 details the emissions amounts for S02." |
| 76868 2005-02-11 | Point Source(s): No information given Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Power failure due to Entergy's loss of power | Refinery wide power outage that damaged several units. More info is supposed to be provided in follow up report within ten days. See 3/11/05 for details. |
| 76817 2005-02-09 | Point Source(s): North Flare 20-72 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 8,250 pounds | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures of the Sour Gas Compressor in the Distillate Hydrotreater | They replaced gaskets. Note the second letter in the file that corrects the incident date in the original letter. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-02-07 | Point Source(s): Loading line on Mississippi River dock Pollutant(s):Oil - 2 gallons | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Valve in a loading line released the oil. | BELOW REPORTABLE QUANTITIES. They tightened down on the packing of the valve and it seemed to solve the problem. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-02-02 | Point Source(s): Outfall 003 Pollutant(s):Oil - 1 gallons | Cause of Problem: Weather During a heavy rain, the refinery ran out of stormwater storage capacity. | BELOW REPORTABLE QUANTITIES. The oil went into the 20 Arpent Canal. They deployed containment booms and closed Outfall 003. |
| 76189 2005-01-14 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 45,996 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 8,854 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 1,262 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 759 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure in the #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit. There was a malfunction in the main air valve. | There were two separate incidents in this one report (see the next row). The refinery is installing redundant equipment to upgrade reliability of air valve. |
| 76176 2005-01-12 | Point Source(s): #2 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator #1-93 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 1,647 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 540 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure A hole developed in the chamber wall of the #2 Tail Gas Treater | The wall was patched. |
| 76080 2005-01-10 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 29,362 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 239 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 8,595 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 212 pounds | Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure A contract programmer set the equipment so that it was "too sensitive" to process paremeters and thus triggered a safety shut down of the unit. | Two incidents were reported in one letter (see next row). The original incident released a big volume of SO2 through the South Flare; restarting produced the emissions in the Tail Gas Treater. The report specifically says that this was NOT due to human error (despite the programmer's setting) |
| 75946 2005-01-03 | Point Source(s): #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 288 pounds | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures Conducted a bypass of the Tail Gas Treater as part of routine start up | BELOW REPORTABLE QUANTITIES |
| 75954 2005-01-03 | Point Source(s): South Flare - EPN # 3 - 77 No information given Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 37,752 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 12,064 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Surge of acid gas feed during hydrocracker startup | There is no reason given for the hydrobracker startup. Two incidents were reported in one letter. |
| 76080_a 0200-01-10 | Point Source(s): South Flare Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator #3 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 40,761 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 451 pounds | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures It was hard to figure out what is going on. The report stated that it happened because they re started the Sour Water Stripper but it didn't say why it needed to be re started. | Note that this is additional information to the incident reported on 1.10.05 |
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