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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #81776
State Police #No Information Given
Accident Date2005-08-27
Report Date 2005-10-14
Follow-up Date 2005-10-14
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Nitric Oxide2dFCC debutanizer overhead condenserNOYESNO74.0 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide2dno.1 and no.2 flaresNOYESNO34,400.0 pounds
Nitrogen Dioxide2dno.1 and no.2 flaresNOYESYES52.0 pounds
Hydrogen SulfideNONONO64.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Weather

HURRICANE KATRINA (storm) Release of sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide was due to overpressurization of the FCC debutanizer overhead condenser, resulting in flaring and a small ground fire.

Discharge Preventable - No

This release is not considered to be preventable at this time.

Notes/Remedial Actions

This follow-up letter has been delayed due to Hurricane Katrina. This is a notification that the total refinery shutdown resulted in an evacuation of the refinery and the potential emergency release of wastewater from the wastewater treatment plant outfall. Chalmette Refining conducted a detailed analysis of emissions resulting from the refinery shutdown for Hurricane Ivan in September 204. Since the refinery shutdown for Hurricane Katrina was similar, they have assumed that the quantities released during Katrina shutdown are the same as the Ivan shutdown. Chalmette Refinery is rescinding the 8/27/05 notifications for S02, H2S, NO2, and hydrocarbons (non-speciated VOCs). Upon further review, the facility claims that the total amounts were estimated to be less that the reportable quantities (RQ= 100 lbs). The original estimated quantity of NO was 467 lbs, and was later changed to be estimated at 74 lbs. Shutdown was undertaken in preparation for the forecasted potential for Hurricane conditions. Operations were conducted in order to minimize emissions while maintaining a safe and orderly shutdown. Emissions resulted from gas flaring, fuel gas quality changes, and standby operation modes necessitated by the shutdown. Sometime after Hurricane Katrina, the pilots on the flares were extinguished. By that time, predominantly natural gas was being flared and no reportable quantities were exceeded.The pilots were re-lit on all flares by September 8, 2005 At approximately 12:00 hours on 8/27/05, the FCC debutanizer overhead condenser overpressured due to a failure with a pressure controller, resulting in flaring and a small ground fire. For the FCC, the tower was returned to normal pressure and the pressure transmitter on the overhead condenser was repaired. The small ground fire was extinguished.