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Accident # | 144564 |
State Police # | 12-07322 |
Accident Date | 2012-11-13 |
Report Date | 2012-11-15 |
Follow-up Date | 2013-01-09 |
Follow-up: | Yes |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Sulfur Dioxide | 12h 10m | Flare 1-4, TGTU-1,3,4 Incinerator, HTU-1 HSR Reboiler, Boiler #1, Boiler #2, Boiler (EQT0037) | NO | YES | NO | 34,788.2 pounds |
Nitrogen Oxide | 12h 10m | Flare 1-4, TGTU- 1,2,3,5 Incinerator, | NO | YES | YES | 205.2 pounds |
Hydrogen Sulfide | 12h 10m | Flare 1-4 | NO | NO | NO | 115.2 pounds |
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | 12h 10m | Flare 1-4 | NO | NO | YES | 422.4 pounds |
Particulate Matter | 12h 10m | Flare 1-4 | NO | YES | NO | 22.6 pounds |
Carbon Monoxide | 12h 10m | Flare 1-4 | NO | YES | NO | 1,116.2 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
This incident involved an upset of the refinery due to a loss of power to the site from our energy supplier's system. Several operating units were affected by the power loss which caused emissions of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the release and combustion of hydrocarbons at the Motiva Enterprises LLC (Motiva) - Convent Refinery.
The power loss was due to an external fault of the energy supplier at Motiva Convent and was not preventable by Motiva.
Immediately, the operating units were stabilized to reduce the impact from the emissions. Several operating units were shutdown and remaining online units followed the emergency procedure for steam load shedding to minimize emissions. Exceeded the 500-pound (lb) reportable quantity (RQ) for sulfur dioxide (SO2). SO2 maximum lb/hr emission limits were exceeded at Tail Gas Treating Units 1, 3, and 4, the Flare CAP, and at combustion devices (i.e. heaters) burning refinery fuel gas. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) maximum lb/hr emission rates were exceeded at Tail Gas Treating Units 1, 2, 3, and 5, and at the Flare CAP. The maximum lb/hr emission rates of NOx, CO, VOC, and PM were experienced at the Flare CAP. Lastly, the maximum opacity limit as required by LAC 33:III.1101.B for SRU No. 4 TGTU Incinerator Stack was also exceeded at the time of the incident.
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