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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 121839 |
| State Police # | 10-01094 |
| Accident Date | 2010-03-02 |
| Report Date | 2010-03-08 |
| Follow-up Date | 2010-04-28 |
| Follow-up: | Yes |
Pollutants Released
| Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
| Ethylene | 7h 20m | FLARE: RCCU Flare | NO | NO | YES | 1,417.3 pounds |
| Propylene | 7h 20m | FLARE: RCCU Flare | NO | NO | YES | 10,351.4 pounds |
| 1,3-Butadiene | 7h 20m | FLARE: RCCU Flare | NO | NO | YES | 77.6 pounds |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | 7h 20m | FLARE: RCCU Flare | NO | NO | YES | 42,527.9 pounds |
| Flammable Gas | 7h 20m | FLARE: RCCU Flare | NO | NO | YES | 33,872.9 pounds |
| Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds (HRVOCs) | 7h 20m | FLARE: RCCU Flare | NO | NO | NO | 11,768.7 pounds |
Accident Classified As:
Cause of Problem: Other - See text
Refinery letter states that "the main air blower for Motiva's RCCU unit tripped unexpectedly which..resulted in an emergency shut down of the RCCU and RGHT units." Upon start up of RCCU, it is suspected the RCCU flare pilot was unlit causing release to air of Ethylene, Propylene, 1,3=Butadiene, VOC, Flammable Gas, HRVOC. HEAVY FLARING ALSO OCCURRED AT SHELL CHEMICAL LP but will be included in a separate report (GO-1 flare). Follow-up report states that "Motiva WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE ULTIMATE CAUSE of the loss of the pilot flame, but that gas pressure being set above the design pressure or severe weather conditions may have contributed to the loss of pilot flame. FLARE.
Discharge Preventable - Yes
YES
Notes/Remedial Actions
RQ. Reportable quantities were exceeded during this incident. "All released materials were dispersed naturally in the atmosphere from the RCCU flare stack." Release was stopped by the re-lighting of the flare. Also flare pilot flame-out alarm was placed back into service and refresher training provided to all operations personnel on the importance of maintaining flare pilot flames. LDEQ report states that according to "LDEQ Enforcement Division, this incident is being included in an Enforcement Action being drafted by the LDEQ Enforcement Division."
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