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Accident # | 84015 |
State Police # | 05-08369 |
Accident Date | 2005-11-21 |
Report Date | 2005-11-28 |
Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
Follow-up: | No |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Sulfur Dioxide | 12m | No. 2 Crude Unit Prefractionator (Prefrac) Tower | NO | YES | NO | 841.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
Pressure spikes on the No. 2 Crude Unit Prefractionator Tower coupled with increased Overhead Accumulator levels, and problems maintaining tower bottoms circulation. The tower pressure exceeded the process relief valve set pressure, ad the Prefrac Towerrelieved to the No. 2 Flare resulting in Sulfur Dioxide emissions in excess of reportable quantity.
In an effort to stop the release, bypasses were opened o the water boot level controllers on both the Atmospheric and Prefrac Towers, and the Prefrac Overhead fin-fans were started. Prefrac Bottoms product was slopped due to water content and the Stabilizer Tower was also shutdown. Following determination by Refinery Personnel that the problem was due to a false Prefrac Bottoms level indication, the level was dropped by increasing the flow to slop, returning tower operation to normal. The level tritter is scheduled for repair in order to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence.
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