LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

Motiva Enterprises, LLC, Norco

Releases of Xylene

LDEQ Incident Number Incident Date	Point Source(s)	Notes	Amount of Release
84114 2005-11-24	Coker Unit	Cause: No information given Followup: Yes Notes: data gathering into the root causes
78205 2005-04-13	RCCU Flare (EPN #8-84)	Cause: No information given Followup: Yes Notes: no listed remedial actions
85967 2007-07-05	DU-5 Unit	Cause: piping failure on the crude column overhead line results in leak Followup: No Notes: Overhead piping will be replaced during next unit turnaround in October 2006	614.0 pounds
103758 2008-03-08	Tank F-455 rundown line	Cause: leaking flange on the rundown line of tank F-455 Followup: Yes Notes: Each tank w/in Logistics will be evaluated to determine the need to excavate rundown lines. Work scope of tank turnaround process will be revised to include excavation and inspection of all flanges and to include flange make-up requirments that ensure an adequate seal is maintained at the flange interface	102.0 pounds
124186 2010-06-15	Wharf Berth 1: high sulfur light product line	Cause: LDEQ report states, "Motiva reported a leaking high sulfur light product line at the wharf that released approximately six barrels of naptha to the Mississippi River. Leak was caused by external corrosion, and two contributing factors were identified. First, the line was found to be in contact with the insulation of adjacent piping, causing water accumulation between the lines. Additionally, inadequate coating was discovered on the blistered section of piping." A total of 1,748 pounds of chemicals were released to the air. Followup: No Notes: RQ. LDEQ report states that "Motiva took the following measures to prevent reoccurrence of this incident: the blistered section of piping will be replaced so it does not contact near-by equipment and the new line will be adequately coated to protect from external corrosion. Motiva has determined that the release was preventable. This incident is an area of concern with regards to LAC 33:III.905 and LAC 33:IX.501.D."	162.0 pounds
123327 2010-05-08	FLARE: HCU elevated Flare (EPN-4-84)	Cause: "Motiva CR-2 recycle gas compressor (K-2057) tripped due to an expected high level in the CR-2 product separator vessel, which subsequently tripped the CR-2 process unit. A sudden increase in the level in the CR-2 product separator occurred while Motiva operators were placing exchangers (E-1243/44/45) back in service." This subsequently caused the HCU elevated Flare (EPN-4-84) to release naphtha-cyclohexane, ethylbenzene, napthalene,hydrotreated heavy naphtha, hexane, toluene, xylene. FLARE. Followup: Yes Notes: BRQ. The refinery letter states that no reportable quantities were exceeded during this incident.
123043 2010-04-25	FLARE - HCU elevated flare	Cause: FLARE. FIRE. Power failure caused rapid shutdown of Hydrocracking Unit due to a valve failure. Moisture had accumulated causing corrosion on the wiring and connections. During troubleshooting, hydroprocessing exchanger E-1057 bottom head caught fire. Fire extinguished with water, no injuries. Followup: No Notes: BRQ. No RQs exceeded but did exceed max lb per hour permit limit for SO2. Process unit restarted and conditions returned to normal. Wiring, connector block, and seal repaired to prevent moisture from causing further corrosion.
139564 2012-05-08	Residual Catalytic Cracking Unit's elevated flare	Cause: The refinery's RCCU CO Heater was struck by lighting during a heavy rainstorm event, causing the CO Heater to shut down. Consequently, an Instrument Protective Function associated with the CO Heater's FD fans automatically tripped the system's main fuel gas burners to safely secure the heater, as per design. This incident also caused flaring at the Shell Chemical OL-5 Elevated Flare. Followup: Yes Notes: Operations worked to stabilize the RCCU process unit and assess the damages to the RCCU CO Heater resulting from the lightning strike.