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Accident # | 147203 |
tate Police # | N/A |
Accident Date | 2013-03-08 |
Report Date | 2013-03-25 |
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 | 7H 25M | North Flare | NO | YES | NO | 564.0 pounds |
Hydrogen Sulfide | 7H 25M | North Flare | NO | NO | NO | 6.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
On March 8, 2013, at approximately 01:34, Valero experienced excess emissions of Sulfur Dioxide at the North Flare during the start up of the Hydrocracker/Hydrotreater Unit. On March 5, 2013, Valero discovered an oil leak on an electrical transformer in the Reformer Unit. In order to de-energize and repair the transformer, Valero conducted a controlled shutdown of the refinery. The root cause of excess SO2 emissions from the Hydrocracker/ Hydrotreater during start up has been identified from previous incidents to be inherent to the original design of the unit. The most recent previous incident, SERC Incident # 12-05963, occurred on 9/3/12. As a corrective action for the 9/3/12 incident, Valero designed a vent line that will direct the gases vented from the Hydrocracker/Hydrotreater Fractionator Overhead Receiver to the refinery's HiJet so that these gases will no longer need to be flared during startup. Valero was planning to shutdown the Hydrocracker/Hydrotreater on 3/15/13 and install this vent line prioer to this unplanned shutdown to repair the transformer.
Valero followed written startup procedures, which were based on unit design and sound engineering judgement. Valero has concluded that the Hydrocracker/Hydrotreater unit cannot be started up as currently designed without venting a quantity of H2S containing gas to the flare. This discharge was not preventable.
Valero completed the start up of the Hydrocracker according to procedure. Valero will shut down the Hydrocracker/Hydrotreater on 3/15/13 as originally planned and install the vent line designed to prevent the start up gases from being flared.
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