Big Lake Gas Plant - Executive Summary

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SAFETY POLICY STATEMENT 
It is the policy of Davis Gas Processing that accident prevention shall be considered of primary importance in all phases of operation and administration. It is the intention of Davis Gas Processing management to provide safe and healthy working conditions and to establish and insist upon safe practices at all times by all employees. The prevention of accidents is an objective affecting all levels of our company and its operations. It is, therefore, a basic requirement that each supervisor make the safety of all employees an integral part of his or her regular management function. It is equally the duty of each employee to accept and follow established safety regulations and procedures. Every effort will be made to provide adequate training to employees. Employees are expected to assist management in accident prevention activities. Unsafe conditions must be reported immediately. Safety is everyones business. 
 
SITE DESCRIPTION 
The Big Lake DGP Plant is located 6 
miles east of Big Lake, Tx. On Hwy. 67. 
There is a Liquid Petroleum Gas Product Storage Tank and a Propane storage tank for refrigeration, which both tanks add up to about 190 barrels of product. Both tanks are painted, welded steel, above ground, horizontal pressure vessel. The  tanks operates up to 200 psig and is protected by a pressure relief valve. Liquid flow into these tanks is determined by the process operations. Liquid flow out of these tanks goes to tank truck loading and is manually controlled. Operating personnel on a daily basis visually inspect these tanks.  If a spill occurred at these tanks, the contents are so volatile that they would evaporate before penetrating the ground to any significant degree. The ground would freeze and contain the propane as it evaporated. 
There is also two Natural Gas Liquid Storage Tanks, which add up to 1,050 barrels of product, both are painted, welded steel, above ground, vertical vessels. The tanks are protected by a pressure relief val 
ves. Liquid flow into these tanks is determined by the process operation. Liquid flow out of the tanks goes to tank truck loading and is manually controlled. Operating personnel on a daily basis visually inspect these tanks. If a spill occurred at these tanks, the highly volatile contents would extensively evaporate before penetrating the ground to any significant degree. 
 
PURPOSE AND GOALS FOR THE BIG LAKE DGP PLANT 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ACTION PLAN 
Emergency Response And Action Plans (ERAP) were developed by Davis Gas Processing  for its Big Lake DGP Plant located in Reagan County, Texas.  The ERAP was developed to assist the Big Lake DGP Plant Foreman in his responsibility to provide skilled and compliant emergency leadership in the event of emergency situations. 
The ultimate goals of the Big Lake DGP Plant ERAP are as follows: 
   1.    To provide Big Lake DGP Plant employees with emergency prevention training that will allow them to avoid process emergencies by predicting and recognizi 
ng potentially hazardous situations. 
   2.    To provide Big Lake DGP Plant employees with emergency prevention training that will allow them to recognize and assess the consequences of personal actions when working  with equipment containing pressurized,  very cold, highly volatile,  and flammable substances. 
   3.    To assure that Big Lake DGP Plant  employees will respond in a safe, prompt, and compliant fashion in the event of unintentional releases of hazardous chemicals in and from the Big Lake DGP Plant. 
   4.    To guarantee that all Big Lake DGP Plant visitors  will be effectively warned to recognize, avoid, and to escape hazardous situations and guarantee that they will be accounted for and removed from the Big Lake DGP Plant in the event of a site emergency. 
   5.    To document that Big Lake DGP Plant emergency response efforts were effective,  prompt,  and  professional. 
   6.    To document that Big Lake DGP Plant emergency response training is provided periodically and in a clear and consistent 
manner, and to ensure  Big Lake DGP Plant  employees have a basic working knowledge of Big Lake DGP Plant emergency response procedures. 
   7.    To document that Big Lake DGP Plant  employees have a clear understanding of the recommended responses for various possible emergency scenarios. 
The Emergency Response Program that we have in place details emergency escape procedures and route assignments that have been posted in work area, and all employees have been trained by supervisors in the correct procedures to follow. New and change in status employees have been trained when assigned to perform any duties that involve the handling of hazardous chemicals.  This facility has an Emergency Shut-Down Procedure that describes the steps to be taken in order for normal operations to be stopped and utility service to be cut off as personnel evacuate the premises during emergency situations.  The Foreman is responsible for accounting for all employees, personally or through a designee, by having a 
ll employees report to predetermined, designated rally point and conducting  a head count. Rescue and medical duties will be performed by EMS personnel from the Big Lake, Texas Fire Department. The employees of the facility will be notified by verbal notification if  an evacuation is necessary.  All personnel have been trained in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of the premises. The training includes, but is not limited to, the Emergency Shut-Down Procedures, escape routes, exits, and rally points. Training was and/or will be provided for employees when: 
1.  The plan was initiated 
2.  Responsibilities change 
3.  Employees are hired or transferred. 
 
WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIO  
The worst-case scenario would involve some sort of mechanical object (e.g. plane, vehicle) to hit or rupture the storage tank of  the  Liquid Petroleum Gas or Natural Gas Liquids Tank. 
The Propane and Liquid Petroleum Gas Storage Tanks contains 32,800lbs. of flammable substance with a worst-case scenari 
o radius of exposure of  1,584 feet.  
.The Natural Gas Liquids Storage Tanks contains 184,500 lbs. of flammable substance with a worst-case scenario, using the RMP Comp method, the radius of exposure is 2,640 feet. There is one residence in the exposed radius. The resident is an employee of Big Lake Gas Plant and the house is located about 600 feet from the Liquid Petroleum Gas and Natural Gas Liquid Storage Tanks. 
 
This facility  has  had no accidents in the last 5 years involving a regulated chemical, that has involved death, injury, or emergency response. Our facility has procedures coordinated with the local response agencies encase of  an accidental release. 
This facility follows the rules and regulations of  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency(EPA),  and the Texas Railroad Commission(TNRCC).This facility has labeled all their storage tanks with identifying signs and NFPA labels which enable the  
fire department easy identification of the products health, flammability, and reactivity.  By following these rules and regulation we are involved in an extensive training program for our employees. This facility  has an ongoing safety training program for their personnel. This program involves all the regulated training programs plus any on the job situations that our employees might encounter.
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