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Valero (26003), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #115395
State Police #091702
Accident Date2009-07-02
Report Date 2009-07-31
Follow-up Date 2009-10-02
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide39 minutesFlares 1, Flare 2NOYESNO4,241.5 pounds
Carbon Monoxide39 minutesFlares 1, Flare 2NOYESNO106.9 pounds
Nitrogen Dioxide39 minutesFlares 1, Flare 2NOYESYES19.6 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)39 minutesFlares 1, Flare 2NONOYES40.4 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide39 minutesFlares 1, Flare 2NONONO11.3 pounds
Particulate Matter39 minutesFlares 1, Flare 2NOYESNO0.8 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

While performing a preventative maintenance check. While checking voltage output levels on the power supplies in the control cabinets an arc was created that shut down both power supply #1 an #2. The loss of both power supplies caused the redundant controllers to power down, which shutdown the Coker Wet Gas Compressor sending material to the flare.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

incident is believed to have been reasonably preventable

Notes/Remedial Actions

Wet gas compressor was immediately restarted