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Shell Chemical East (26336), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #148252
State Police #13-01718
Accident Date2013-04-20
Report Date 2013-04-25
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 Monoxide6hGO-1 Elevated Flare, FE-602NOYESNO2,343.7 pounds
NOx6hGO-1 Elevated Flare, FE-602NONOYES430.7 pounds
Particulate Matter6hGO-1 Elevated Flare, FE-602NOYESNO81.1 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide6hGO-1 Elevated Flare, FE-602NOYESNOBRQ
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)6hGO-1 Elevated Flare, FE-602NONOYES640.0 pounds
Hexane6hGO-1 Elevated Flare, FE-602NONONO59.4 pounds

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

On April 20, 2013, GO-1 operations restarted compressor K5741 after planned maintenance was executed. During the restart event, GO-1 flared dry gas at the GO-1 Elevated Flare (EPN 1-90) until the dry gas met specification to be used feed in the unit. The GO-1 flaring resulted in no reportable quantities exceeded but a permit limit exceedence of 46.32 lbs of Hexane.

Discharge Preventable - No

This incident was not preventable by Shell Chemical. Shell Chemical could not predict the failure of the compressor mechanical check valve.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The cause was a mechanical failure of the compressor check valve that required a dry gas compressor shutdown to repair. Once repairs were completed, dry gas must be flared until it meets specification to be used in the unit. An investigation determined the cause was the mechanical failure of the compressor check valve. This required a dry gas compressor shutdown to repair. Shell Chemical procedures require that the dry gas must be flared until it meets specification to be used in the unit.