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Valero (1238), Meraux

Releases in 2010

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source/Release CauseNotes
127859

2010-11-25
Point Source(s):
Labratory Sump

Pollutant(s):
Hydrocarbon - 10 gallons
Oil - 0
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

LDEQ report states that hydrocarbon mixture (oil/water/hydrocarbon) discharged into ditch along Colonial Pipeline, south of Jacob drive. Release occurred due to a crack in a sump discharge pipe fitting causing the suction problems with the two pumps that drain the sump. This resulted in sump fluids leaking from the sump vent pipe and possibly the cracked fitting.
LDEQ report states that refinery flushed storm drain, removed contaminated water in ditch and sent to facility's waste water treatment plant, removed contaminated soil and sent to River Birch for disposal. Installed alarm system on lab sump and and extended sump vent pipe 8 feet in air to prevent reoccurrance.
127860

2010-11-22
Point Source(s):
FLARE: #2 SRU [#1-93]; North Flare [EPN 20-72]

Pollutant(s):
Sulfur Dioxide - 1,391 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide - 15 gallons
Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

Refinery letter indicates that facility flared sulfur dioxide from the North Flare due to the shutdown of the #2 SRU. Emissions were also released from the incinerator stack. A root cause analysis will be conducted to determine the trigger for the shutdown. FOLLOW-UP: Level indicator failed at #1 SWS Overhead Receiver and #1 SWS Off-Gas knockout Pot (SA-V-102). This caused erratic flame at SRU furnace ultimately causing safety shutdown. Root cause was formation of ammonia salts plugging the level indicators; this was "the result of insulation and steam tracing on these level indicators that did not conform to design conditions. Some insulation was not in place and some steam tracing was not in contact with the process piping." DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
RQ. Shut down unit and steamed out level indicators. Restored the insulation and steam tracing on the level indicators to design conditions.
126996

2010-10-09
Point Source(s):
FLARE - North Flare (EPN:20-72)

Pollutant(s):
Sulfur Dioxide - 13,380 pounds
Cause of Problem: Process Upset

A pressure relief valve opened at #2 Hijet system due to a malfunction in the #2 Hijet where a line was plugged with ammonia salts. This lead to SO2 emissions at the North Flare (EPN:20-72). FLARE.
RQ. Reportable quantities for sulfur dioxide were exceeded. Immediately the line was cleaned and #2 Hijet was restored to normal operations. A pressure transmitter was installed on the affected line to provide early detection of accumulated ammonia salts. An injection point was installed to allow flushing of the line with hot boiler feed water.
126886

2010-10-05
Point Source(s):
OIL LINE - 2" slop oil line

Pollutant(s):
Slop Oil - 0 gallons
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

Slop oil spilled into the river due to a leak at a threaded connection on a short section of a 2" slop oil line. Cause of leak was not provided.
BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded. The spill was immediately cleaned up with absorbent pads. No additional information about how/when they fixed the leak was provided.
126739

2010-09-28
Point Source(s):
FLARE - North Flare (#20-72)
FLARE - South Flare (#3-77)

Pollutant(s):
Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ
Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Power Outage. A power interruption caused emergency safety shutdowns in several units. The hydrocracker shut down, and hydrogen from it was combusted at the North Flare. At the South Flare a mix of hydrocarbon vapors were combusted. There were brief, intermittent periods of flaring. FLARE. FOLLOW-UP Letter states that the cause of the unanticipated power outage was a "failed lightening arrestor on a main feeder line."
BRQ. Follow-up letter states that release was below reportable quantities. Operating procedures were followed to safely secure and re-start affected units and they are investigating what caused the unplanned power interruption. Murphy Oil inspected all arrestors and replaced two that show signs of wear.
126668

2010-09-27
Point Source(s):
Pipeline

Pollutant(s):
Oil - 0
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

Release from a crude oil pipeline that transfers crude oil from barges to the Murphy Oil refinery. The pipe is buried near the Mississippi River levee. Report states that date/time/duration of release is unknown, but was discovered on 9/27/10. Report submitted.
LDEQ reports states: "The pipe was repaired on 9/27/10. Contaminated soil has been profiled as oily dirt and will be disposed of at Woodside Landfill in Walker, LA...On 4/7/11, it was learned that the remediation work has been halted because of the high level of the Mississippi River. She also stated that the ground water was impacted by the oil. A referral to the Remediation Division will be made." FOLLOW-UP: Remediation action plan submitted to LDEQ, but as of September 2011 report does not include amount of oil released.
126231

2010-09-08
Point Source(s):
#2 FCCU Reactor Vessel

Pollutant(s):
Hydrogen Sulfide - 0 pounds
Benzene - 0 pounds
Hydrocarbon - 1 pounds
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Refinery letter states that a small hole developed in the #2 FCCU reactor vessel.
BRQ. The hole was repaired, and the unit was returned to service.
126159

2010-09-05
Point Source(s):
Tank 80-6: Kerosene Line

Pollutant(s):
Kerosene - 82 gallons
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

Refinery letter states that approximately 2 barrels of kerosene was released before the line depressurized.
The area was cleaned, and the line was repaired/clamped. Follow-up letter states that approx 2 yards of soil was removed from the area and has been profiled as "oily dirt" by the Chemical Waste Facility, Walker, LA.
125820

2010-08-20
Point Source(s):
No Information Given

Pollutant(s):
No Information Given - 0
Cause of Problem: No Information Given

No information given.
122144

2010-03-13
Point Source(s):
FLARE: North Flare (#1 Sour Water Stripper Flash Drum)

Pollutant(s):
Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Refinery letter states that flaring of the #1 Sour Water Stripper Flash Drum occurred due to high pressure. The high pressure was caused by a faulty electrical breaker.
Murphy Oil followed its operating procedures to restore the #1 Hi-Jet to normal operation. LDEQ closed this incident case on 5/9/2011.
121438

2010-02-10
Point Source(s):
Platformer Charge Heater (#17-72a, b, c)

Pollutant(s):
Particulate Matter - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Under Investigation

Emergency Notification Occurrence forms states that liquid inadvertently entered the refinery fuel gas system, causing poor combustion in the heater and resulting in smoke emissions.
BRQ. Refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded, but also describes the release as an "unquantifiable amount of particulate matter." The heater was shut down. Automated level controls were installed on Area 2 fuel drum to expedite the removal of excess liquids from that vessel.
121335

2010-02-06
Point Source(s):
Tank 55-7

Pollutant(s):
Crude Oil - 84 gallons
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 8 gallons
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

Crude oil spilled from underground transfer line. Unclear/unknown how long spill lasted before discovery.
RQ. Reportable quantities were exceeded for crude oil. Line flushed with water and permanently removed from service; free liquids vacuumed, visibly contaminated soil removed.
120583

2010-01-06
Point Source(s):
Tank 250-1

Pollutant(s):
Crude Oil - 126 gallons
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 6 gallons
Cause of Problem: Weather

HEAVY RAIN. Crude oil spill from contractor equipment employed to clean tank. Multiple problems intersecting: liquid level in skimming tank rose too high and flowed out of inspection window that had been left open. Level setting of tank set too high, tank no longer level due to a month of heavy rains so sensor was out of position, containment pan compromised by pipe lying across it, tank system left unattended. SECONDARY CAUSE: Human Error.
Contractor will monitor skimming tank & containment more closely, provide refresher training for water wash operations.
120544

2010-01-05
Point Source(s):
FLARE - South Flare (EPN #3-77)

Pollutant(s):
Sulfur Dioxide - 12 pounds
Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

Pressure increase in sulfur plant due to series of unit shutdowns, automatic safety diversion of naphtha vapors, pressure relief valve opened, released via South Flare. Letter states that "the pressure increase was apparently due to naptha vapors venting into the vessel during shutdown of the Hydrocracker Unit for a month-long refinery-wide maintenance turnaround." FLARE.
BRQ. Refinery letter states that "reportable quantity of a regulated material was not exceeded." Followed operating procedures in "Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Plan." Reviewing event to see if procedures need to be updated. Refinery letter only. No LDEQ report.