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Motiva Enterprises (2719), Convent

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #130936
tate Police #N/A
Accident Date2011-04-15
Report Date 2011-04-19
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 DioxideNo information givenTGTU-4 IncineratorNOYESNO500.0 pounds
Carbon MonoxideNo information givenFCCU WGSNOYESNO 

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

The incident began at Motiva's Convent Refinery on 4/15/11 when the refinery's Boiler # 4 shutdown due to an internal tube failure. With the loss of the boiler, the refinery transitioned to steam curtailment and several units were forced to reduce charge rates. As units were being reduced, the excess fuel gas not being utilized was routed to the refinery flare gas system (flares #1 and #2). The opacity limit was exceeded due to the lack of steam available in the refinery to affectively control the smoke while flaring the excess fuel gas. Also during the transition, the FCCU experienced an upset which caused hydrocarbon to under carry from under the high pressure fuel gas knock out drum into the amine acid gas header. The amine acid gas header feeds the Tail Gas Treating Units in the Sulfur Recovery Plant. As the amine acid gas (and the entrained hydrocarbon carried under from the FCCU) was combused in the TGTU-4 Incinerator, the sulfur dioxide and opacity released through the stack was above permitted limits. The excess emissions ceased when the FCCU was stabilized.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

No Information Given.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Report notes that Motiva exceeded their emission standards for opacity limit and the maximum limits of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide in lbs/hr. Motiva states that they exceed the 500 pound reportable quantity for sulfur dioxide.This report does not say the duration of the release or the amount of pollutants that were released. Report was found during a written notification process.