Control Technology Assessment of Petroleum Refinery Operations: Preliminary Site Visit Report, Cherry Point Refinery

摘要

An on site visit was made to the Cherry Point Refinery, near Ferndale, Washington, to evaluate control technology strategies used by the refinery to control worker exposure to potentially toxic chemical agents and harmful physical agents. Specific attention was focused on naphtha reforming and oil/water separation. The facility could process up to 120,000 barrels per stream day of Alaskan North Slope crude. Efforts to control exposures included the identification of all hazardous chemical and physical agents by workplace, employee exposure assessment, control of unacceptable exposures, training and information offered, medical surveillance, and a documentation and record keeping system. Area hydrogen-sulfide (7783064) monitors were located at the sulfur recovery unit and an API separator was used for oil and water separations. Several interesting control techniques noted during the visit included a closed oil water sewer with sample points directly piped to the sewer, use of computer programs to calculate correct bolt tightening stress, pump inspections for seal leaks, valve inspections for steam and hydrocarbon leaks, use of temperature sensitive paints on vessels to indicate higher temperatures, and the use of acoustical testing for locating stress/corrosion cracking while the vessel was in service.