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Accident # | 127175 |
State Police # | 10-06166 |
Accident Date | 2010-10-21 |
Report Date | 2010-10-26 |
Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
Follow-up: | No |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
1,3-Butadiene | 21 m | Bela 5 unit | NO | NO | YES | 20.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
A heat exchanger leak into a closed loop system was suspected to be causing a unit upset, which resulted in flaring.
This release was not preventable because it was caused by unacticipated bundle leak.
Two instances of flaring from the 1,3-Butadiene unit, BELA-5, occurred within a 24 hour period causing an exceedance of RQ. At approximately 4:58 flaring of the BELA-5 finishing tower overhead began. The heat exchanger is used to heat unit feed and cool solvent. To stabilize the unit and end the release, feed to the unit was reduced. Flaring began again at approximately 6:42 am. Operations were modified to mitigate leak potential and use of flare. A plan to repair the exchanger, which will require a unit shutdown, is being developed. This incident was not preventable because it was caused by an unforseen bundle leak.
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