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Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #102027
State Police #08-00046
Accident Date2008-01-03
Report Date 2008-01-10
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No Information Provided

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide40mFLARE - #3 Sulfur Recovery Unit Incinerator stack (EPN: 5-00)NOYESNO123.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Other

excess emissions of sulfur dioxide occurred at the #3 SRU Incinerator stack due to a malfunction of the #3 SRU. The malfunction, a flameout in the #3 SRU TGTU Tail Gas Burner, resulted in an automatic TGT bypass. The MCR (Master Control Relay) connections were checked because and analysis of the Triconex output indicated a probable loose connection. A loose connection was found and repaired.

Discharge Preventable - No

Notes/Remedial Actions

This was a self report to LDEQ with a follow-up report both from Murphy. The incident was not preventable because the loose connection was not a predictable human event. Remedial Measures - MOUSA inspected the unit and found a loose connection at the #48 terminal in the Master Control Relay for the #3 SRU. MOUSA tightened the connection and set up a Preventable Maintenance work order to inspect all critical relay connections during the next planned unit shutdown.