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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #147803
State Police #13-01409
Accident Date2013-04-03
Report Date 2013-06-07
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide10h 22mCoker 2 Gas CompressorNOYESNO24,480.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Power Failure

A lightning strike caused a temporary loss of power from Entergy resulting in a shutdown of the K8101 wet gas compressor. On Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at approximately 1026 hours, Chalmette Refinery experienced a disruption in power service causing the coker 2 gas compressor to trip (K8101). This resulted in the fractionator overhead valve opening to the flare system to control the pressure. K8101 restart attempts failed and the flare gas management (FGM) compressors stopped pumping from the increased molecular weight. Flare 1 was out of service for maintenance activities and the gas was routed to the #2 Flare system to ensure safe operations. K8101 was restarted at 1420 hours and at approximately 1640 hours the FGM compressors were restarted and H2S levels decreased. All systems were normal at 1800 hours.

Discharge Preventable - No

CRLLC could not have anticipated a disruption in power from a third party.

Notes/Remedial Actions

After several attempts to restart K8101 flare gasses were routed to the #2 Flare to ensure safe operations. All efforts were taken to get the flare system back in normal operation as quickly as possible.