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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #76362
PDF AvailablePDF
State Police #05-00463 & 05-00486
Accident Date2005-01-21
Report Date 2005-01-28
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
Carbon Monoxide5h 48mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter Tower & LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve 50FC060NOYESNO314.7 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide5h 48mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter Tower & LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve 50FC060NOYESNO46.3 pounds
Hydrocarbon5h 48mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter Tower & LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve 50FC060NONOYES199.4 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide5h 48mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter Tower & LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve 50FC060NONONO0.1 pounds
Nitric Oxide5h 48mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter Tower & LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve 50FC060NOYESNO77.0 pounds
Nitrogen Dioxide5h 48mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter Tower & LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve 50FC060NOYESYES5.8 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure

(1) 0600 hrs: Hydrocracker Light Ends Plant (LEP) Butane Splitter Tower began to overpressure because LEP Depropanizer Tower Bottoms Flow Control Valve (50FC060) had failed in the open position, letting propane to exit to the Butane Splitter. (2) 1700 hrs: Butane Splitter again began to overpressure due to the presence of propane. The level indication on the level instrument was detecting a false reading.

Discharge Preventable - No

Notes/Remedial Actions

Letter speaks of two incidents on same day at 0600 hrs and 1700 hrs but attached report shows three incidents: (1) 4:05 a.m. lasting 3h 42m; (2) 3:15 p.m. lasting 41m; (3) 4:30 p.m. lasting 1h 25m. Amounts of compounds are only given in totals for all 3incidents. This incident is related to incident # 76355. LDEQ states that it is also related to incident # 76395.