Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #130690
State Police #11-02206
Accident Date2011-04-21
Report Date 2011-04-25
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 Dioxide3h 4mSulfur Unit (SRU-4); TGTU No 4NOYESNO1,467.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

State police report states that an unplanned shutdown occurred due to an upset in the sulfur unit, causing a release in sulfur dioxide. The incident originated with the unit re-start of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) which then affected the processes of the Amine Recovery Unit (ARU).

Discharge Preventable - No

Motiva's Upset Notification Form states that the incident was a result of lighter than usual (gasoline range) material getting into the process vessels. The lighter material caused the level instrumentation to read incorrectly in a false indication that levels were acceptable.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Operations modified the start-up procedure to better diagnose a buildup of backpressure from downstream.