Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #89141
State Police #06-04286
Accident Date2006-07-10
Report Date 2006-07-19
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
Sulfur Dioxide3 h 30 mNorth Flare (EPN #20-72) and #2 SRU incineratorNOYESNO2,960.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Sulfur condenser Level Control Valve malfunctioned and a 1st attempt at repair did not correct the problem (malfunction and human error). Operations were able to be continued manually but operator had to go to another unit and the #2 SRU tripped on low water level in the condenser.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

If operator had not been diverted to a different unit the problem could have been avoided.

Notes/Remedial Actions

SERC Incident # 06-04286. routed acid gas to the N. Flare to reduce env. Impact Valve of SRU was repaired that day. Disciplinary actions were conducted to deal w/ human error.