| Home | Search | Emissions | Pollutants | About the Database |
Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 111370 |
| State Police # | 08-07828 |
| Accident Date | 2008-12-11 |
| Report Date | 2008-12-15 |
| Follow-up Date | 2009-01-08 |
| Follow-up: | Yes |
Pollutants Released
| Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
| Nitrogen Oxide | 5 h 45 m | Tail Gas Treating Unit 3 (77H-101) | NO | YES | YES | BRQ |
| Carbon Monoxide | Tail Gas Treating Unit 3 (77H-101) | NO | YES | NO | BRQ | |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78H-101) | NO | NO | NO | 103.0 pounds | |
| Sulfur Dioxide | Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78H-101) | NO | YES | NO | 2,895.0 pounds | |
| Particulate Matter | Tail Gas Treating Unit 4 (78H-101) | NO | YES | NO | BRQ | |
| Seal Oil | Flare No 3 (19G-301) | NO | NO | NO | 791.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
Cause of Problem: Process Upset
Upset of the ebulated-bed residuum hydrocracker (H-oil Unit) with a series of fluctuating alarms. While responding to the alarms, operators noticed a fire on the compressor turbine casing and immediately responded to extinguish the fire. The primary cause of this event was a H-Oil unit malfunctioning local level controller on the sour oil seal pot causing the drain valve to remain open and lose reference gas pressure across the seal oil pot.
Discharge Preventable - No
There was no indications of any issues with the level controller. Immediate and appropriate action was taken by affected process units to address the situation and reduce environmental and operational impacts.
Notes/Remedial Actions
FIRE. Operations began to reduce production by reducing charge rates on units and to troubleshoot H-Oil recycle compressor and fin fan malfunctions. Immediate action was taken to begin the process of stabilizing, slowing down and shutting down the H-Oil unit and other units as necessary. Affirmative defense letter. Motiva inspected and completed insrumentation checks on the level control for thesour oil seal pots the level control drain valve and the level gauge. A faulty high-level switch was found and replaced. COR will schedulean operation's monitoring cycle to ensure proper sour oil seal pots level. COR will also add a level control loop for the sour oil seal pots levels during the next maintenance outage.
Connect With Us: