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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

Releases in 2008

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source/Release CauseNotes
109940

2008-10-08
Point Source(s):
RCCU unit CO heater

Pollutant(s):
Carbon Monoxide - 806,024 pounds
Nitrous Oxide - 1,694 pounds
Particulate Matter - 21,166 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide - 21,640 pounds
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

RCCU unit discovered several tube leaks in the CO heater, necessitating a controlled shutdown of the heater and RCCU and the diversion of all regenerator flue gas to the atmosphere and away from the flue gas scrubber to mitigate safety concern. Even went on over 5 days--RQs exceeded. No DEQ report in this file--follow-up only.
76 tubes that were in poor condition replaced in the CO heater.
No LDEQ Number Available

2008-09-12
Point Source(s):
CR-2 Unit

Pollutant(s):
Chlorine Gas - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Reactor regeneration section of the CR-2 Unit developed a hole in the side of a rupture disk flange on the CR-2 chlorine system.
Rupture disks in the CR-2 chlorine system will continue to be replaced at regular intervals, per preventative maintenance guidan
No LDEQ Number Available

2008-08-24
Point Source(s):
Transfer header between furnaces F-35 and F-36

Pollutant(s):
Crude Oil - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

crack in a thermowell which allowed crude to leak out of threads of thermocouple
Thermowell replaced and DU5 returned to service
107061

2008-07-09
Point Source(s):
Hydrocracker Unit Rectifier Absorber Column (PV-822)

Pollutant(s):
Hydrogen Sulfide - 1 pounds
Flammable Gas - 63 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 25 pounds
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

A pressure swing at the HCU caused relief valve on the HCU Rectifier Absorber column (PV-822) to open to atmosphere. HCU was in process of being started post-turnaround.
Motiva has modified a low level alarm on the HCU High Pressure Separator to mitigate the pressure swings on the Rectifier Absorber Column.
106936

2008-07-03
Point Source(s):
Sewer pump house, LPDES Outfall 002

Pollutant(s):
Sewage - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

A PVC pipe failure inside the sewer pump house caused the sanitary sewage to fill the dry well of the sewer pump house and to spill out of the building. The spare pump also failed, causing a second unauthorized discharge.
The pumps were disabled and the spilled sanitary sewage was recovered via vacuum truck. A bypass was necessary to complete the repairs on the damaged piping. The sanitary sewage was directed to the refinery wastewater treatment system prior to mixing with the main refinery effluent. The discharge of sewage was cleaned up and treated.
105124

2008-04-26
Point Source(s):
RCCU Elevated Flare (EPN 8-84)

Pollutant(s):
Nitrogen Oxide - 117 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide - 1,182 pounds
Carbon Monoxide - 638 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 311 pounds
Particulate Matter - 22 pounds
Cause of Problem: Process Upset

Boiler 7 tripped, causing a swing in the 1300 pound steam header to the RCCU. Motiva's RCCU Wet Gas Compressor slowed considerably, causing venting of the suction to the RCCU elevated flare.
103758

2008-03-08
Point Source(s):
Tank F-455 rundown line

Pollutant(s):
Benzene - 25 pounds
Xylene - 102 pounds
Oil - 267 gallons
Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

A leaking flange on the rundown line of tank F-455 was discovered during refill operations.
Operations personnel halted product transfer, tightened the flange to stop the release, called out additional personnel to begin containment and vapor suppression foaming, began clean up operations, and notified the Norco Site Supervisor. All material released to the ground was picked up via vacuum trucks and stored in fractionation tanks to facilitate source control sampling. All hydrocarbon impacted soil was excavated and disposed of in Motiva's on-site landfill. Regarding remedial actions, each tank within the logistics organization will be evaluated on a case-by-case frequency to determine the need to excavate rundown lines during scheduled tank turnaround activities. The work scope of the tank turnaround process will be revised to include excavation and inspection of all flanges and to include flange make-up requirements that ensure an adequate seal is maintained at the flange interface.
102827

2008-02-04
Point Source(s):
Tank F0458 floating roof

Pollutant(s):
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - BRQ
Benzene - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

An air bubble was trapped in a feed line from a recent line flushing, causing material to escaped through the seal on the floating roof of tank F-458.
Lines feeding the tank were immediately shut down and the material was pumped into the tank for recovery.
102144

2007-07-05
Point Source(s):
Subsurface Crude Dewatering System

Pollutant(s):
Crude Oil - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

leak in the subsurface crude dewatering system yields release
Containment and leak repair completed. Soil remediation activity accomplished. Verbal report indicates RQs for benzene and PAH exceeded
107624

2007-07-05
Point Source(s):
Firewater Block Valve at Berth 1

Pollutant(s):
Firewater - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Other

see notes
Incident caused by unanticipated bypass of the wastewater treatment facility. Repairs were completed on the block valve and the valve is schedule to be replaced.
108282

2007-07-05
Point Source(s):
LPDES Outfall 006

Pollutant(s):
Wastewater - BRQ
Cause of Problem: Weather

Tropical Storm Fay fills Stormwater Impoundment Basin, so a bypass begins causing flow out of refinery from Outfall 0
Fay follows on heels of lots of rain. SWIB was already quite full prior to storm. Motiva opened the Outfall to prevent the flooding of the refinery.
109413

2007-07-05
Point Source(s):
None Reported
Pollutant(s):
Cause of Problem: Weather

Heavy rain results in bypass of stormwater impounding basin
No information given