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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #123040
State Police #10-1386
Accident Date2010-04-27
Report Date 2010-05-04
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 Dioxide25mflare #1NOYESNO1,359.0 pounds
Particulate Matter25mflare #1NOYESNOBRQ
Nitrous Oxide25mflare #1YESYESYESBRQ
Carbon Monoxide25mflare #1NOYESNOBRQ
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)25mflare #1NONOYESBRQ
Hydrogen Sulfide25mflare #1NONONOBRQ
Ammonia25mflare #1NONONOBRQ
Benzene25mflare #1NONOYESBRQ
Carbonyl Sulfide25mflare #1NONOYESBRQ
Ethylbenzene25mflare #1NONOYESBRQ
Naphthalene25mflare #1NONOYESBRQ
Toluene25mflare #1NONONOBRQ
Xylene25mflare #1NONONOBRQ
n-Hexane25mflare #1NONONOBRQ

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

Compressor inadvertently tripped while executing Emergency Block Valve Prevention Maintenance Program procedure on it--sent material to flare.

Discharge Preventable - No

"All the drawings and documentation indicate the EBV will not shutdown the compressor until the valve reaches 20% closed. In this instance, the EBV had only moved ~3-5% prior to suddenly shutting down the compressor." SO2 exceeded RQ.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Operations team secured the unit and started up the compressor, full evaluation and troubleshooting will be addressed during next shutdown. Will not perform EBV maintenance program in the meantime.