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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

On January 19, 2013, Motiva's Sulfur Plant No. 2 (S2) experienced an unexpected lube oil piping leak on a turbine driven main air blower causing the process unit to trip offline. At this time, all of the acid gas that S2 was processing was routed to Motiva's Sulfur Plant No. 3 (S3). Subsequently, the acid gas header at S3 surged sending an additional flow of tail gas through the unit to the S3 absorber. The S3 absorber was not able to adequately treat the sudden increase in flow at this time, and sulfur dioxide was released through the S3 incinerator exceeding the maximum pound per hour permit limit. Motiva has determined that the root cause of the piping leak on the main air blower lube oil system at S2 was due to a fatigue of a threaded connection that contributed to the fatigue condition, and this will serve as a final repair of the leak.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

Operations responded immediately to the incident by starting an electric blower at S2, to safely restart the process unit and recover the additional acid gas set to S3. Once the acid gas was routed back to S2 utilizing the electric blower, the release stopped. Operations also tripped the Sour water stripper column to reduce feed flow to S3 and help reduce incinerator SO2 emissions. There were no reportable quantities exceeded during the release. However, the maximum pound per hour permit limit for sulfur dioxide was exceeded.