SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

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(Adopted May 3, 2013)

RULE 1114 PETROLEUM REFINERY COKING OPERATIONS 

(a) Purpose and Applicability

The purpose of this rule is to reduce emissions from atmospheric venting of coke 

drums. This rule applies to all petroleum refineries equipped with delayed coking 

units.

(b) Definitions

For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) COKE DRUM is a batch system pressure vessel in which petroleum coke 

is produced.

(2) DELAYED COKING UNIT is a petroleum refinery process unit in which 

high molecular weight petroleum derivatives are converted to lighter 

gaseous and liquid products and petroleum coke by means of thermal 

cracking in a series of coke drums. A delayed coking unit consists of the 

coke drums and ancillary equipment associated with a main fractionator.

(3) PETROLEUM REFINERY is a facility identified by the North American 

Industry Classification System Code 324110, Petroleum Refineries.

(4) TURNAROUND is a planned activity involving shutdown and startup of 

one or several process units for the purpose of performing periodic 

maintenance, repair or replacement of equipment, or installation of new 

equipment.

(c) Requirements

(1) Effective November 1, 2013, the owner or operator of a delayed coking 

unit shall depressurize each coke drum to less than two (2) pounds per 

square inch, gauge (psig) prior to venting it to atmosphere; or

(2) If unable to comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1), the owner or 

operator of a delayed coking unit shall comply with the following:

(A) At a facility with a single delayed coking unit, effective May 1, 

2014, depressurize each coke drum prior to venting to atmosphere 

to less than five (5) psig until compliance with paragraph (c)(1) is 

achieved, which is required upon completion of the first unit 

turnaround after May 1, 2014 or by December 31, 2016, whichever 

is earlier.
Rule 1114 (Cont.) (Adopted May 3, 2013)

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(B) At a facility with more than one delayed coking unit:

(i) By November 1, 2013, submit to the Executive Officer:

(I) For approval, a baseline calculation using general 

engineering practices and substantiating records that 

identify the facility-wide average coke drum 

internal pressure at which atmospheric venting was 

initiated for all the coke drums during calendar year 

2012, or 

(II) A notification that the facility intends to 

depressurize each coke drum to less than five (5) 

psig until achieving compliance with paragraph 

(c)(1);

(ii) Effective May 1, 2014, until completion of the first 

turnaround at an affected delayed coking unit following 

May 1, 2014 or by December 31, 2016, whichever is 

earlier, either:

(I) Depressurize each coke drum prior to venting to 

atmosphere to a pressure not to exceed, when 

averaged over a 30 day period for all affected 

drums, 110% of the 2012 baseline submitted and 

approved pursuant to subclause (c)(2)(B)(i)(I), or

(II) Depressurize each coke drum to less than five (5) 

psig, pursuant to subclause (c)(2)(B)(i)(II); and,

(iii) Effective upon resuming operations at an affected delayed 

coking unit following its turnaround or January 1, 2017, 

whichever is earlier, depressurize each affected coke drum 

to less than 5 (five) psig prior to venting to atmosphere

until compliance with paragraph (c)(1) is achieved within 

the next 24 months of the earlier trigger date.

(C) Submit to the Executive Officer any required permit applications 

pursuant to Regulation II for equipment and process modifications 

necessary to achieve compliance with subdivision (c) at least nine

months prior to effective dates.
Rule 1114 (Cont.) (Adopted May 3, 2013)

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(d) Monitoring and Recording

Effective November 1, 2013, the owner or operator of a delayed coking unit shall:

(1) Monitor the coke drum pressure and record it continuously from feed 

introduction until atmospheric venting is initiated, using a device 

calibrated at least once annually according to manufacturer’s 

specifications;

(2) Monitor and record continuously from feed introduction until atmospheric 

venting is initiated the following:

(A) Coke drum atmospheric vent valve position (open or closed) or, if 

unable to comply with subparagraph (d)(2)(A),

(B) Coke drum blowdown valve position or the temperature of the 

coke drum vent at a location downstream of the atmospheric vent 

valve, until achieving compliance with subparagraph (d)(2)(A), 

which is required upon completion of the first unit turnaround 

following November 1, 2013 or by December 31, 2016, whichever 

is earlier;

(3) Maintain the monitoring equipment required in paragraphs (d)(1) and 

(d)(2) in good operating condition except for periods of downtime due to 

calibration, maintenance or repair, which shall not exceed 96 hours per 

calendar year per delayed coking unit, and

(4) Manually record the coke drum pressure and the atmospheric vent valve 

position at five minute intervals covering a time period of no less than 15 

minutes immediately prior to atmospheric venting during periods of 

downtime as specified in paragraph (d)(3).

Notwithstanding the effective date in subdivision (d), the owner or operator of a 

facility subject to paragraph (c)(2) shall comply with the requirements in this 

subdivision effective May 1, 2014.

(e) Notification

The owner or operator of a delayed coking unit shall notify the Executive Officer 

by telephone within 24 hours of any failure of the monitoring or recording 

equipment required by subdivision (d).

(f) Recordkeeping

Effective November 1, 2013, the owner or operator of a delayed coking unit shall 

maintain all operational and calibration records required by subdivision (d) for at 
Rule 1114 (Cont.) (Adopted May 3, 2013)

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least five years and shall make such records available to the Executive Officer 

upon request. Notwithstanding the effective date in subdivision (f), the owner or 

operator of a facility subject to paragraph (c)(2) shall comply with the 

requirements in this subdivision effective May 1, 2014.

(g) Exemptions

Any coke drum subject to the provisions of this rule shall be exempt from the 

provisions of Rule 404.