Cameron Meadows Gas Processing Facility - Executive Summary |
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26858 LDEQ Facility ID Number 1. The accidental release prevention and emergency response policies at the stationary source. Cameron Meadows is a natural gas processing plant. We handle natural gas and natural gas liquids (which contain methane ethane, propane and other like materials). The EPA considers these materials hazardous (flammable). Because they are flammable it necessary to handle them with certain safety precautions. These Safety precautions include safety systems such as alarms, shutdowns, overpressure relief valves, good and accepted engineering practices, proper construction guidelines and training of our personnel. These safety precautions provide protection for our employees' health and welfare and provides safeguards for the public and environment. It is our policy to comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. In addition to implementing EPA's Risk Management Program to protect the public and the environment, the Cameron Meadows Pl ant has implemented OSHA's Process Safety Management program to protect the employees. Cameron Meadows' Emergency Response Plan includes procedures for notification of Local, State and Federal agencies, as well as adjacent business. Local officials including our LEPC have reviewed (and had input on) the Response plan. The Cameron Meadows employees receive training over these procedures and also conduct Mock Emergency Drills. 2. The stationary source and regulated substances handled. The primary function of the Cameron Meadows facility is the recovery of natural gas liquids from natural gas. The natural gas is delivered to the Cameron Meadows Plant via pipeline. Liquids are extracted from the gas by the use of a cryogenic process. The processed gas is shipped via pipeline to end-users. The recovered liquids are sent via pipeline to a fractionation facility were the individual components of the mixture are separated and sold to various users. The regulated substances at the Came ron Meadows Plant are flammable mixtures of natural gas and natural gas liquids. The maximum intended inventory for the Cameron Meadows Plant is 3,710,342.22 pounds. 3 The worst-case release scenario (s) and the alternative release scenario (s). Worst-Case Release: The release of the entire contents of the Johnson Bayou Processing Train's Product Surge Tank when the tank is at 100% of capacity would result in the release of 122,516 pounds of a flammable mixture of natural gas liquids. Cameron Meadows Operating Procedures allows the level of the Product Surge Tank to be maintained at 40 to 60%. Using the EPA's method of calculating worst case release where the entire contents are released as vapor over a ten minute span and release finds a ignition source the end-point of 1 pound overpressure using the TNT Equivalency Method with 10% conversion is a distance of .3917 miles or 2,068 feet. Alternate Release: A failure of the tandem seals on the Cameron Processing Tr ain's Demethanizer Reflux pump as used for alternate release scenario. The duration of 20 minutes reflects the approximate time needed for the operator to detect and stop the leak. The pump is a Bigham centrifugal pump that operates at a range of 600-800 GPM. Normal suction and discharge pressures are in the 425# to 435# range. Suction temperature is between -70 to -80:f. The maximum hazard zone width for this scenario is 642 feet and goes off the plant site to the south and extends into a normally unmanned separation facility. 3. 4. The general accident prevention program. The Williams Field Services' Cameron Meadows Gas Processing Plant, a division of Williams Energy Services, has developed and implemented this Risk Management program to identify, understand, control and prevent or minimize the consequences of unwanted releases of high hazardous chemicals (regulated substances). In addition, the Cameron Meadows Plant has developed and implemented OHSA's Process Safety Manageme nt Program. 5. The five-year accident history. The Cameron Meadows facility has not had an accidental release of a regulated substance that resulted in any offsite injuries or damage in the last five years. 6. The emergency response program. The Cameron Meadows emergency response program follows company policies. The program as been reviewed by the Cameron Parish LEPC. The local Fire Department and Ambulance Services have both been on site to review our program and facilities. A full-scale mock drill (with all local emergency responders participating) is scheduled for 1999. Our employees are trained annually over emergency procedures. We conduct evacuation drills and tabletop drills. We review the plan with the LEPC annually. 7. Planned changes in improving safety. This facility will be conducting volume testing on our firewater pumps. The piping system to the suction of the firewater pumps is being studied. We will be installing smoke dictation in our purchase power build ing. We plan on installing new heat detectors in our GE turbine building. Will this increase the ability to pump fire-suppression water? Will it increase the speed with which fires can be detected? |