Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #83531
State Police #05-07824
Accident Date2005-10-29
Report Date 2005-11-03
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Lubricating Oil0 h 20 mHTU-2 Fire and Release from recycle CompressorNONONO10.0 gallons
Particulate Matter 100 h 20 mHTU-2 Fire and Release from recycle CompressorNOYESNO1.1 pounds
Nitrogen Oxide0 h 20 mHTU-2 Fire and Release from recycle CompressorNOYESYES5.8 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)0 h 20 mHTU-2 Fire and Release from recycle CompressorNONOYES11.8 pounds
Carbon Monoxide0 h 20 mHTU-2 Fire and Release from recycle CompressorNOYESNO31.3 pounds

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

At approximately 10:25 am on 10/29/05, there was a small fire on 14C-201 recycle compressor on HTU-2. A small fire was ignited by lube oil escaping the seals on the turbine outboard bearing cap onto the turbine case which was in full operation during the leak. It appears that the lube oil reservoir overfilled which impeded flow through the lube oil return line back to the reservoir.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

This incident could have been prevented had the oil reservoir not overfilled.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The fire was immediately extinguished by operations using a fixed fire monitor. Due to the fire the hydrogen system on the unit had to be depressured to the flare resulting in flaring for several minutes. The unit was depressured for repair. Incident is under investigation using Triangle of Prevention program. Mitigations are likely to be a combination of engineering, i.e. different technology for measuring levels and revising procedure No reportable quantities were exceeded.