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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #No LDEQ Number Available
tate Police #N/A
Accident Date2012-04-27
Report Date 2012-06-09
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 Dioxide13hSulfur Recovery Unit Thermal OxidizerNOYESNO1,150.8 pounds

Accident Classified As: No Information Given

Cause of Problem: Other - See text

Tail Gas incident due to Sulfur Recovery Unit Train 1 being shut down due to low refinery acid gas production following unscheduled outages of the No.2 Coker and the Cat Feed Hydrotreater. the Sulfur Recovery Unit on Train 2 was forced to switch to combustion air-mode to avoid the possibility of acid flaring.The temperature of the Sulfur Recovery Unit Train 2 No.1 Converter dropped ue to uncombusted pit vapors, resulting in an increase in Sulfur Dioxide from the Thermal Oxidezer

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

- Refresher training has been conducted with increased emphasis on the importance of monitoring the No. 1 Converter temperature during train transitions to combustion air with pit vapor to prevent recurrence. - Procedure to switch from O2-mode to air-mode was modified to ensure temperature is adequate to handle pit vapors on air-mode. - MDEA lean loading field testing will now include upgraded analysis procedures and will be moved from the field to the lab. - Evaluate project to operate Sulfur Recovery Units in partial O2-enrichment mode to reduce environmental vulnerability.