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Accident # | 112924 |
State Police # | 09-00885 |
Accident Date | 2009-02-21 |
Report Date | 2009-02-27 |
Follow-up Date | 2009-03-00 |
Follow-up: | Yes |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Sulfur Dioxide | 16h | Area A, B, and C heater stacks | NO | YES | NO | 716.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As:
The skimming of hydrocarbons at the #3 Flash Drum led to a foaming upset of the regenerator and inefficient H2S removal from the amine utilized in the high pressure fuel gas (HPFG). This caused a #3 Amine Regeneration Unit (ARU) system upset that resulted in combustion of refinery fuel gas with high H2S in the HPFG system. Ultimately, this caused SO2 to be released from fired heater stacks in Areas A, B, and C.
Hydrocarbon skimming has to be done to prevent regenerator foam ups.
NOTE: Follow-up occurred on 3/31/09. Exceeds RQ. Immediate action taken was to add anti-foam to get the system back to normal and cleaning up the amine. Firing rates of heaters reduced to decrease SO2 released. Planned remedial action include increase frequency of skimming the #3 Amine Flash Drum to prevent sending large amounts of hydrocarbon to the regenerator all at once.
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