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Accident # | No LDEQ Number Available |
tate Police # | N/A |
Accident Date | 2013-02-07 |
Report Date | 2013-03-22 |
Follow-up Date | 0000-00-00 |
Follow-up: | No |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Sulfur Dioxide | 4H 45M | North Flare | NO | YES | NO | 57,312.8 pounds |
Hydrogen Sulfide | 4H 45M | North Flare | NO | NO | NO | 611.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
The Unit 215 Hydrocracker Hot High Pressure Separator level control failed causing a liquid carryover to the Unit 243 Sour Fuel Gas System. The liquid hydrocarbon entered the Unit 247 amine system through the sour fuel gas treaters. Once the hydrocarbon was in the amine system, the capability to regenerate the amine was compromised, resulting in high H2S in the sweet fuel system. While working to recover regeneration, hydrocarbon was carried into the Unit 220 and Unit 234 Sulfur Recovery Units (SRU) resulting in activation of their associated ESD system. After several unsuccessful attempts to restart the SRUs, the unit 247 Amine Regenerator Tower overhead product was routed to flare to remove the hydrocarbon from the amine. Once the hydrocarbon was removed, the system returned to normal operation. The resulting emissions from this event were 57,312.75 lbs/SO2 and 611 lbs/H2S.
The malfunction was unexpected and no more could have been done to prevent this incident.
1. Process unit charge rates were reduced in accordance with the refinery's sulfur shedding plan. 2. The amine that was contaminated was stripped to ensure hydrocarbon did not reach the sulfur plants and cause further emissions and/or unnecessary unit trips. 3. Maintenance was contacted to address the failed level instrumentation in Unit 215.
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