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Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #99344
State Police #07-05425
Accident Date2007-09-10
Report Date 2007-11-15
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide3.5FLARE - Malfunction of Air Products Gas Oxygen (GOX) Compressor / South FlareNOYESNO9,557.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

the incident was a result of light hydrocarbon contamination (methane) in the supply of pure hydrogen to MOUSA from Air Products resulting from a malfunction of their Gas Oxygen (GOX) Compressor. Hydrogen Purity abruptly dropped from 99.5% to approx. 95%. The methane flashed, exceeding the pressure setting on the relief valve from the Flash Drum to the Flare

Discharge Preventable - No

Notes/Remedial Actions

This incident was not preventable because MOUSA was unable to predict the malfunction of the Air Products GOX compressor and was not provided timely notification of the problem. There was no malfunction or human error on the part of MOUSA. RemedialMeasures - In order to quickly detect and respond to such events, MOUSA gained access to the data from the Air Products online hydrogen purity analyzer on the supply line from Air Products. At the next unit turnaround, MOUSA will install a Rich Aminash Drum pressure indicator on the DCS console. MOUSA also developed an operating procedure to standardize the adjustments that must be made to quickly overcome such an event. The corrective actions listed above should enable MOUSA to provide timely