LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Placid Refining (2366), Port Allen

Releases in 2009

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source/Release	Cause	Notes
118307 2009-09-30	Point Source(s): Sump pump Pollutant(s): Diesel Fuel - BRQ Kerosene - BRQ #6 Oil - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down A delay in the automatic start-up of sump pump 839 on Placid's south dock allowed oily material to back up into secondary containment. A previously unknown crack in the secondary containment curb allowed material to seep out and cause a sheen.	Automatic switches were replaced, and the pump was reset. Also the crack was repaired.
117777 2009-09-06	Point Source(s): FLARE Pollutant(s): Flammable Gas - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Process Upset planned flaring during start up of an unit.
117362 2009-08-18	Point Source(s): #2 Sulfur Recover Unit Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - 1,054 pounds	Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure Water got into the instrument air system which resulted in the diversion of acid gases to the number three sulfur unit that resulted in the excess emissions from the #2 Sulfur Recover Unit.	Police report only. No letter or follow up from the refinery.
116624 2009-07-21	Point Source(s): FLARE Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Process Upset Water from the farm tank reached the crude unit, that result in flaring of preflash gas.	No Information Given
116433 2009-07-09	Point Source(s): Flare Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - 1,100 pounds	Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down The released has been happened as a result of flaring during unplanned FCCU shutdown. On 7/9/09 FCCU experienced an uninterruptible power supply malfunction causing an emergency shutdown valves to go into fail position and flared sour water and wet gas.	No information given. The release has be contained within few hours.
116009 2009-06-25	Point Source(s): Flare Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - 940 pounds	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Placid#3 sulfur unit experienced a malfunctioning PLC due to overheating. Resulting in the flaring of acid gas and sour water.	Placid installed a cooler on the PLC panel.
115997 2009-06-25	Point Source(s): Flare stack, EQT016, EPN 18-74 Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - 10,520 pounds	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure No. 3 sulfur unit experienced a malfunctioning PLC, due to overheating, which resulted in flaring of acid gas and sour water.	No information given
114651 2009-05-03	Point Source(s): Placid's Marine recovery Pollutant(s): Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Placid's Marine vapor recovery unit malfunctioned due to high temperatures.	no information given. Placid was granted a variance on its title V permit. VOC's controlled by the carbon absorption system to another control device in order to repair the system.
112709 2009-02-11	Point Source(s): FCCU Pollutant(s): FCCU Feed - 0	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Placid's emergency shutdown system was activated in the FCC unit due to a closing control valve and low main air blower discharge flow. During the shutdown valve leaked and the gases ignited. Flaring of debutanizer occurred during start up and shutdown.	Fire extinguished, eliminated charge from unit, unit brought back online. In addition, training was conducted to prevent similar incidents in the future.
112709 2009-02-11	Point Source(s): refinery Pollutant(s): FCCU Feed - BRQ	Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket The emergency shutdown system was activated in the FCC unit due to a closing control valve and low main air blower discharge flow. During shutdown, a remote operating valve leaked and the gases ignited. Flaring occurred during start-up and shutdown. Root cause is identified as closed control valve. No information is given on releases.	Fire was extinguished, eliminated charge from unit, unit brought back online. In addition, training was conducted to prevent similar incidents in the future.