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Shell Chemical East (26336), Norco
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 139571 |
| State Police # | 12-02864 |
| Accident Date | 2012-05-09 |
| Report Date | 2012-07-03 |
| 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 |
| Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | 24.8 pounds |
| Butadiene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | BRQ |
| Benzene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | BRQ |
| Ethylene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | BRQ |
| Propylene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | BRQ |
| Sulfides | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | NO | 0.5 pounds |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | 179.6 pounds |
| 2-methylnaphthalene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | NO | 3.6 pounds |
| Naphthalene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | YES | 1.2 pounds |
| 1-methylnaphthalene | 1h 6m | Furnace in the OL-5 Process Unit | NO | NO | NO | 3.3 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket
On May 9, 2012 Shell Chemicals OL-5 Process Unit experienced a small fire during restart of a furnace. After feed to the furnace was established as part of furnace start up, a gasket on the 42" feed line failed. Hydrocarbon vapors from the leaking gasket were then ignited.
Discharge Preventable - Yes
This incident was preventable by Shell.
Notes/Remedial Actions
The valve providing feed to the furnace was closed and the fire was extinguished. Upon further investigation of the gasket failure it was discovered that recommended maintenance practices for installation of these type gaskets was not followed during this installation. After inspection it was also believed that the nuts and bolts used were worn and may have reached the end of their useful life. New quality control procedures are being put in place to ensure that the proper installation is used in future installation of this type gasket. It was also recommended that the nuts and bolts be replaced during the repair work on the flange and that closer inspections of the nuts and bolts be done during future repairs. LABB was only able to find the final follow-up; there was no facility letter. Shell estimates that there was a leakage of approximately 200lbs of quench oil which is broken down in the pollutants.
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