Case Study- For APA Tutor

Case Study- For APA Tutor

 

Unit VII Case StudyRead the incident scenario, and write a response that is at
least 3 pages in length. Your response must include answers to the
questions being asked. All sources used, including the textbook,
must be referenced. Paraphrased and/or quoted materials must have
accompanying in-text and reference citations in APA format.Scenario:You are the Refinery Emergency Response Coordinator for an
incident at the SJV Refinery which has been in operation since
1966. The refinery processes 120,000 bbls of crude oil per day,
which has a sulfur content of 2.5 percent. The refinery converts
crude oil to naptha, light oil, and heavy oils using the
Atmospheric/Vacuum Distillation Unit with key equipment such as the
following: naptha, kerosene, gasoline, and diesel hydrotreaters; isomerization unit; naptha reformer; fluid catalytic cracker; coker; hydrocracker; polymerization unit (petrochemical section of the refinery
polymerizing olefin gases to produce polyethylene); sulfur recovery Claus plant (catalytic reactors); and distillate/gasoline blending tanks.The refinery was initiating work on a major plant turnaround at
the time of the incident to complete required maintenance repairs,
mechanical integrity inspections, and modifications to existing
equipment. Twenty contractor companies (approximately 150
employees) have been contracted to perform this work under the
direction of refinery staff. All of the contractor workers
completed the refinery orientation training. Work for the
contractor crews is assigned/scheduled each morning. On the day of
the incident, the day-shift (6 am to 6 pm) crew had been tasked
with isolating the acid gas feed stream for the Claus unit. Due to
other work priorities, the crew did not isolate the line as
planned. A shift turnover for the night contractor crew did not
happen due to mandatory safety training that delayed their arrival
at the worksite. Upon their arrival at the work site, the night
crew held a job safety analysis (JSA) review of the scheduled task
(line breaking of the acid gas feed line to replace a segment) to
be performed and the hazards present. No pressure gauges or
monitoring was present to indicate that the acid gas feed line was
operational. The crew initiated the line breaking activity (open
the line to the atmosphere) at approximately 7:45 pm under
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which almost immediately
resulted in the uncontrolled release of acid gas. A nearby ignition
source from a welding operation ignited the flammable gas. The
following actions were initially taken: The evacuation alarm was sounded and the refinery emergency
response team (ERT) was activated. The plant manager and the local fire department were notified
of the incident. The incident command was established at the refinery office
near the main refinery access gate to the south (this is the
furthest distance within the refinery boundary from the incident
location). The refinery ERT incident commander implemented actions
required under the approved refinery emergency response plan. The ERT was not able to immediately isolate the acid gas feed
pipeline. The fire department arrived on location and assumed the
incident command of the event.Additional Relevant Information: The refinery encompasses an area measuring 2000 feet by 1400
feet. The Claus unit is located in the most northern part of the
refinery, approximately 1350 feet from the main refinery access
gate to the south. The polymerization unit is operating directly
adjacent to the Claus unit. The nearest residential community is located approximately
1000 feet to the northeast of the refinery. A plastic recycling plant is located along the south fence
boundary of the refinery. A major interstate highway runs directly parallel to the
plant, approximately 1/4 of a mile directly north of the
refinery. The ambient temperature on the day of the incident was 85° F
and the wind was blowing at 7 mph from the southwest to the
northeast. Work crews were scheduled to work 12-hour shifts, 24-hours a
day, to complete the refinery turnaround. Due to the age of the refinery, SJV has implemented a robust
mechanical integrity program. The refinery has a trained ERT that can respond to
incidents. Fixed water monitors are present throughout the refinery to
extinguish refinery equipment fires. The refinery ERT does not
fight fires past the incipient stage. The refinery has received notices of violation (NOVs) from the
local air district in the past several years due to gas and liquid
leaks from piping components, such as valves, compressor/pump
seals, and for excess sodium dioxide (SO2) emissions related with
their sulfur plant. Due to historical discharges of organic compounds, groundwater
monitoring wells are present down gradient of the facility.
Groundwater underlying the plant has historically been encountered
at 30 feet below ground surface. Hydrogen sulfide is present in the acid gas feed to the Claus
plant. The H2S concentration of the acid gas feed is approximately
70 percent by volume. H2S and sulfur dioxide (SO2) have the
following physical properties:Physical Property H2S SO2Specific Gravity at 68oF (20oC) 1.54 1.4Vapor Density (Air=1) 1.18 2.22Flashpoint -116oF (-82.4oC) Not ApplicableAutoignition Point 500oF (260oC) Not ApplicableLower Explosive Limit 4.3% Not ApplicableUpper Explosive Limit 46% Not ApplicableIDLH 100 ppm 100 ppmQuestions:1. Discuss the hazards posed by the interaction of the hazardous
materials present at the refinery and adjacent facilities,
including the resulting by-products of the incident fire and acid
gas release.2. As the lead refinery representative on the unified incident
command (UIC), what actions should be taken by the UIC to respond
to this incident (please consider all receptors).3. If the polymerization unit is engulfed in the fire, how will
this affect your response?4. All emergency responders participated in the post-incident
critique. What corrective actions should be implemented by the
refinery to prevent the reoccurrence of this incident?

 

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