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Valero (1238), Meraux

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #127860
State Police #10-06823
Accident Date2010-11-22
Report Date 2010-12-06
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 Dioxide2h 50mFLARE: #2 SRU [#1-93]; North Flare [EPN 20-72]NOYESNO1,391.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide2h 50mFLARE: #2 SRU [#1-93]; North Flare [EPN 20-72]NONONO15.0 gallons

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

Refinery letter indicates that facility flared sulfur dioxide from the North Flare due to the shutdown of the #2 SRU. Emissions were also released from the incinerator stack. A root cause analysis will be conducted to determine the trigger for the shutdown. FOLLOW-UP: Level indicator failed at #1 SWS Overhead Receiver and #1 SWS Off-Gas knockout Pot (SA-V-102). This caused erratic flame at SRU furnace ultimately causing safety shutdown. Root cause was formation of ammonia salts plugging the level indicators; this was "the result of insulation and steam tracing on these level indicators that did not conform to design conditions. Some insulation was not in place and some steam tracing was not in contact with the process piping." DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Refinery letter states "Yes. There were no injuries as a result of this episode."

Notes/Remedial Actions

RQ. Shut down unit and steamed out level indicators. Restored the insulation and steam tracing on the level indicators to design conditions.