Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #148700
State Police #1302060
Accident Date2013-05-12
Report Date 2013-05-17
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: 

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide1h 4mFGM compressor, #1 FlareNOYESNO1,049.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure

On Sunday, May 12, 2013, at approximately 19:25 hours, the flare gas management (FGM) compressors tripped on a high inlet separator drum liquid level which resulted in material being routed to the #1 Flare. An investigation revealed the liquid level instrumentation that controls the levels in the inlet separator drum had malfunctioned causing the liquid level control valve to close and the liquid level to rise. This occurred when the level instrument was reading at lower than the setpoint value and the valve closed to raise the liquid level although the level was already rising but could not be seen by the operator board. The computer logic is designed to shut down the flare gas compressors during high level liquid alarms which were detected by a triplicated high level system which is independent of the liquid level that controls the control valve to prevent damaging the equipment.

Discharge Preventable - No

CRLLC had no prior indication that the level instrument would malfunction and values would indicate levels lower than the setpoint causing the valve to close which raised liquid levels and overfill the drum.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Steps were taken to minimize emissions as much as possible and return the FGM compressors to normal operation. The inlet separator drum level instrumentation was repaired and is now operating normally. Additional systems are being evaluated which would provide backup indicators of conditions that would fill the inlet separator drum.