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Valero (1238), Meraux
Releases in 2009
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source/Release | Cause | Notes |
| 120439 2009-12-24 | Point Source(s): Meraux Canal Pollutant(s):Oil Sheen - 42 gallons | Cause of Problem: No Information Given | Company letter missing. Spill of unknown oil from facility causing sheen on water. Earlier that day, a 300 barrel spill of crude oil was discovered at Tank 250-1 which is next to the Meraux Canal (Incident 09-4246). However, Murphy personnel stated that the spill was completely contained and could not be the course of the sheen. |
| 120412 2009-12-24 | Point Source(s): Tank 250-1 Pollutant(s):Crude Oil - 12,600 gallons | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Valve at the 24" fill line leaked into Tank 250-1 and out of an open manway. | RQ exceeded. Tank is out of service for cleaning and inspection. Spilled material recovered with vacuum trucks and contaminated soil will be removed. |
| 120404 2009-12-23 | Point Source(s): North Flare from #2 SRU Incinerator Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 3,090 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Automatic safety shutdown of #2 SRU occurred due to malfunction of the burner. This caused flaring at the North Flare. | RQ exceeded. Murphy Oil started procedures and re-started the unit. Root cause is under investigation. |
| 120104 2009-12-14 | Point Source(s): Gasoline Tank 200-1 Pollutant(s):Volatile Organic Compounds - 31,274 pounds Benzene - 616 pounds | Cause of Problem: Under Investigation After heavy rainfall, personnel found gasoline accumulated on the external floating roof of Gasoline Tank 200-1. Root cause is under investigation. | RQ exceeded. Tanks was isolated and a fire fighting foam was applied to prevent ignition. The discharge was removed from the tank. |
| 120127 2009-12-12 | Point Source(s): Outfall 003 Pollutant(s):Diesel Fuel - 840 gallons | Cause of Problem: Weather Prolonged rainfall caused sewage overflow. Release occurred at Outfall 003. | RQ exceeded. Pressurized water moved material to oil skimmers for vacuum trucks to recover material. Absorbent and hard booms were also deployed. Murphy Oil will review storm water management procedures. |
| 119999 2009-12-09 | Point Source(s): North Flare from #2 SRU Incinerator Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 10,800 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Automatic safety shutdown of #2 SRU due to malfunction in the SRU main burner flame dectors. Caused flaring from the North flare. | RQ exceeded. Refinery followed operating procedures. Unit was re-started and Root Cause Analysis is on-going. |
| 119047 2009-10-27 | Point Source(s): trim condenser Pollutant(s):Gasoline - 42 pounds | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Leak from trim condenser. Material discharged into cooling water return pond that leads to the Mississippi River. | Company letter missing. Verbal report only. Leak isolated and repaired. |
| 118824 2009-10-19 | Point Source(s): Tank 250-1 Pollutant(s):Crude Oil - 5,460 pounds | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Leak in the roof drain line within the east side of Tank 250-1 into secondary containment area. | RQ exceeded. Vacuum trucks recovered spilled material and contaminated soil will be removed. Spill was secured. In follow-up, the tank is out of service pending cleaning, inspection, and repair. |
| 119342 2009-10-15 | Point Source(s): Facility Fugitives- #2 FCCU Pollutant(s):Hydrocarbon - 44,000 pounds Benzene - 155 pounds | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Leak in the #2 FCCU Reactor manway flange. | RQ exceeded. Applied steam to disperse the vapors. Attempted to fix the leak by tightening the manway flange bolts, but failed. Shutdown the FCCU because the leak worsened. Placed a clamp and then sealed to stop the leak. Will inculde inspecting and repairing the manway during planned maintenance procedures. |
| 118251 2009-09-27 | Point Source(s): #2 SRU incinerator Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 159 pounds | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Automatic safety shutdown of #2 Sulfur Recovery Unit due to hydrocarbon breakthrough into the unit. Attempted to re-start the unit because had to bypass acid gas around #2 Tail Gas Treater which resulted in emissions. A second attempt to start up was successful but also required a bypass which results in further emissions. | RQ not exceeded. Gas bypasses were secured in both cases. Refinery followed propr procedures and appropriate repairs will be done on the unit. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2009-07-26 | Point Source(s): Pollutant(s):Naphtha - 5 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Malfunction of loading hose cause spill into Mississippi River. | RQ not exceeded. |
| 116011 2009-06-26 | Point Source(s): Frick Compressor (Area 4 Chiller) Pollutant(s):Freon - 4,000 pounds | Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket Failed gasket on flange on the compressor station. cause a spill and release to the air at the Frick Compressor in area 4 Chiller. | Will repair the unit. Replaced faulty gasket. |
| 115235 2009-05-24 | Point Source(s): North flare from hydrocraker Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 4,000 pounds | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Automatic safety shutdown of the hydrocracker unit. Cause flaring at North flare. | RQ exceeded. Secured and re-started hydrocracker. |
| 114001 2009-02-25 | Point Source(s): stacks from #2 FCCU Pollutant(s):Hydrocarbon - 35,000 pounds Catalyst Fines - 5,165 pounds Particulate Matter - 1,750 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset #2 FCCU had an upset in the system called FCC reversal. This involved an imbalance of pressure in the system creating yellowish smoke that was released from the stacks. | RQ exceeded. Secured and re-started #2 FCCU. |
| 112823 2009-02-18 | Point Source(s): North Flare Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 4,000 pounds | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Automatic safety shutdown of hydrocracker unit resulted in a North flare with no smoke. | RQ exceeded. Re-started the hydrocracker according to procedure. |
| 112801 2009-02-14 | Point Source(s): None Reported Pollutant(s): | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure The plant was in normal operation except for the distillate hydro treater which was in the process of restarting after a mechanical upset on the previous day. | At the time of the complaint regarding very strong odor coming from Murphy Oil Refinery as well as a large flame and rumbling noise, there was a mild waste water odor from the waste water treatment plant noticeable at Gate 8. This odor was not described as a gasoline odor. The plant did receive a call from the community fro a gasoline odor which was not found during the investigation of the call which included a drive through the adjacent neighborhood. The plant was in normal operation except for the distillate hydro treater which was in the process of restarting after a mechanical upset on the previous day. The plant also received a call for vibration that was investigated. The compressor at the distillate hydro treater (B-^) was in restart mode. There was some vibration associated with the compressor restart. No noise problems were noted in the plant record. |
| 112011 2009-01-13 | Point Source(s): #3 SRU Incinerator Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 215 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 15 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset The flame on #3 SRU Incinerator's burner went out. | RQ not exceeded. Burner was re-lit to resume normal operations. Cause is under investigation. |
| 111906 2009-01-09 | Point Source(s): South Flare Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 235 pounds | Cause of Problem: Power Failure Power interruption to units. Shut down units due to the safety procedures that caused smoke to be released at South Flare. | RQ not exceeded. Followed operations to secure and re-start the units.Sulfur Recovery Units remained online throughout.Power interruption cause is under investigation. |
| 111719 2009-01-04 | Point Source(s): Pollutant(s):No Information Given - 0 | Cause of Problem: Weather Heavy rainfall- sewage capacity inadequate caused Outfall 006 to discharge | RQ not exceeded. Discharge was followed according to procedure. |
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