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Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #93779
State Police #07-00556
Accident Date2007-02-06
Report Date 2007-02-13
Follow-up Date 2007-05-30
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide7 h 18 mRefinery Flare No. 2 19AH-901NOYESNO3,680.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide7 h 18 mRefinery Flare No. 2 19AH-901NONONO10.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down

during start up of FCCU and shut down of the electric-motor driven pump, the turbine-driven pump failed to maintain adequate feed flow and both charge heaters tripped. During FCCU Start up the Main Fractionator vented to fla

Discharge Preventable - No

The excursion of the Main Fractionator overhead pressure during startup, not the series of trips that previously shut down the unit, was the cause of the significant flaring that led to the SO2 RQ exceedence. While the existing startup procedure directed personnel to search for water pockets in easily accessible locations in the overhead circulation line, it is not possible to search the entire line and some water pockets may remain undetected. It is therefore important to also slowly increase circulating reflux flow rates in an attempt to minimize pressure spikes due to previously undiscovered water pockets.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Motiva revised the FCCU normal startup procedure to highlight the desire to slowly increase circulating reflux flow rates in an attempt to minimize pressure spikes due to water pockets.