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Valero (26003), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #86848
State Police #06-01936
Accident Date2006-03-30
Report Date 2006-05-12
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 Dioxide1 h 13 mVacuum jet tower receiverNOYESNO1,200.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure

Vacuum tower jet receiver pressured up causing the liquid level in the seal legs to backup and create a higher discharge pressure on the vacuum ring pumps. The increased pressure at the jet receiver resulted in the drum PSV lifting to the flare. The increased pressure on the discharge of the ring pumps cause al 3 pumps to trip on high amps. The ring pumps were drained and restarted at which time the flaring stopped. Exact cause of incident unknown.

Discharge Preventable -

Notes/Remedial Actions

Emissions were minimized by roperations reducing charge to the unit. The overhead receiver was drained, the ring pumps were de-inventoried to start up level, and the ring pumps were restarted to reestablish the vacuum on the vac tower and stop the flaring of gases.