LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Phillips 66 (2418), Belle Chasse

Releases in 2013

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source/Release	Cause	Notes
152230 2013-11-08	Point Source(s): Pollutant(s): Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - BRQ	Cause of Problem: No Information Given The affected soil was identified through soil sampling beneath tank T-106, which was conducted to assess odors in the work area when the tank was elevated for maintenance. Upon sampling and analysis, it was determined that VOCs and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons-Gasoline Range Organics (TPH-GRO) exceeded the RECAP Soil_SSi and Soil_ssgw. No soil staining, free phase material, or sheen was observed beneath the tank. The tank resides atop a clay lined foundation and ring structure which isolates the tank bottom from the surrounding soil and ground water. No removal was completed as integrity of the ring structure and cribbing could be compromised by adjacent soil removal.	The site was investigated on 11/13/13 and odors were detected while lifting Tank 106. Samples of soil varying from 0-12 inches came back with levels of PPHGRO and Benzene above RECAP. Report does not mention specific quantities. On a follow up date sampling at 3 ft was conducted and nothing above RECAP was detected. No sheen or signs of league in or around the tank was observed. No removal was completed as integrity of the ring structure and cribbing could be compromised by adjacent soil removal. A work plan for Tank 106 soil and ground water assessment has been submitted to Remediation Services, dated 12/23/2013 and is viewable in EDMS.
149450 2013-07-01	Point Source(s): 301-V-20 (EQT 0192) Pollutant(s): Hydrogen Cyanide - 41,736 pounds	Cause of Problem: Other - See text Due to a change in estimating methodology based on a proactive analysis of stack test data from other facilities, the hydrogen cyanide emissions from the refinery are above the reportable quantity of 10 pounds per day. The continuous release being reported is not the result of a malfunction or any change in operations but rather is due to a change in estimating methodology. These emissions occur during normal operations and are stable in quantity and rate.	These emissions occur during normal operations and are stable in quantity and rate during normal operations. A permit modification application shall be submitted to accommodate the higher emission rate. Modeling shall be performed to assure that the Louisiana Toxic Air Pollutant Ambient Air Standard is not exceeded. Applicable requirements and permits to determine if HCN emissions are federally permitted are being evaluated and it is believed by Phillips 66 that they may be exempted from CERCLA and EPCRA release reporting. Using sitewide emission rates and previously approved modeling procedures, the preliminary results indicated that HCN would not exceed the Class III AAS for HCN (260 micrograms per cubic meter over an 8-hour averaging period).
No LDEQ Number Available 2013-03-25	Point Source(s): Product Dock 1 Pollutant(s): Gasoline - 0 gallons	Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket On Tuesday, March 26, 2013, the operator on Dock 1 observed a sheen and the investigation of the sheen led to the discovery of a very small dripping leak on the gasoline loading line for Dock 1. The leak was off an engineered clamp on the gasoline loading line that had been installed following a previous leak on November 17, 2012. The line that leaked was not in use for any vessel loading, but it was pressured up as gasoline was being loaded onto a vessel at Dock 2. The leak rate observed was 4 drops per minute. The Dock 2 loading commenced at 11:15PM on March 25, so the worse case duration would be 580 minutes (9 hours, 40 minutes). Assuming an average drop volume of 0.05ml, the estimated volume is 0.03 gallons.	Upon discovery of the leak, the gasoline loading at Dock 2 was stopped, and the visual leaking ceased. The Dock 1 line was then isolated from the refinery system supplying the Dock 2 loading; as an additional precaution, a temporary containment was placed under leak area. Once the Dock 1 isolation was confirmed and the clamp was verified as no longer leaking, loading operations resumed on Dock 2. The clamp was re-pumped with sealant, and the line remains isolated pending further investigation.
146671 2013-02-14	Point Source(s): Low Pressure Flare Pollutant(s): Sulfur Dioxide - 481 pounds	Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Power was inadvertently interrupted to the electronic speed governor for the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit's Wet Gas Compressor. The governor performed as designed, reducing the compressor's rotating speed to minimum but not shutting down the machine. The excess gasses the compressor no longer could process were routed to the Low Pressure Flare in order to protect the compressor. The Flare Gas Recovery's Water Seal Drum for the Low Pressure was compromised at the initial onset of this event resulting in flaring.	Operations began the process of increasing the compressor's speed back to normal. Once returned to normal speed and the water seal at the seal drum was re-established, the flaring of all excess gases stopped.