Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #130936
State Police #No Information Given
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 givenFLARE: TGTU-4NOYESNO500.0 pounds
Carbon Monoxideno information givenFLare: FCCUNOYESNO 

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

The incident began at Motiva's Convent Refinery on April 15, 2011 at approximately 16:22, when the refinery's Boiler No. 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 (specifically, Refinery Flares No. 1 and No. 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 the high pressure fuel gas knock out drum into the amine acid gas header. As the amine acid gas (and the entrained hydrocarbon carried under from the FCCU) was combusted in the TGTU-4 incinerator, the SO2 and opacity released through the stack was apparently above the permitted limits. The excess emissions ceased when the FCCU stabilized.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

No information given.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The excess emissions ceased when the FCCU stabilized. No additional information. NOLDEQ or SPOC letter included. Emergency Condition.