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Valero (26003), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #91842
State Police #06-06806
Accident Date2006-11-03
Report Date 2006-11-10
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
Hydrogen Sulfide1 h 20 mThermal oxidizer stackNONONO629.0 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide1 h 36 mThermal oxidizer stackNOYESNO1,315.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Incline mixer for the sulfer recover units' tail gas treating unit malfunctioned. Led to higher Hydrogen Sulfide gas concentrations being send to the TOX causing it to trip. Also, the temperature in the TOX dropped due to both the TOX trip and loss ofheat from the incline mixer. Precise cause of failure is Under Investigation

Discharge Preventable -

Notes/Remedial Actions

Restarted the TOX ASAP so that any residual H2S could be combusted. Restarted the TGU as soon as practical to minimize SO2 emissions.