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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 153484 |
| PDF Available |  PDF |
| State Police # | 14-00388 |
| Accident Date | 2014-01-23 |
| Report Date | 2014-01-30 |
| 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 |
| Isobutane | 2 h 33 m | Elevated Flare (FE-201) | NO | NO | YES | |
| n-Butane | 2 h 33 m | Elevated Flare (FE-201) | NO | NO | NO | |
| Propane | 2 h 33 m | Elevated Flare (FE-201) | NO | NO | YES | |
| Propylene | 2 h 33 m | Elevated Flare (FE-201) | NO | NO | YES | |
| Isobutylene | 2 h 33 m | Elevated Flare (FE-201) | NO | NO | YES |
Accident Classified As: No Information Given
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure
Motiva's RCCU Unit had a relief Valve (RV) on its Debutanizer Column lift and relieve to atmosphere. The RV lifted as its designed pressure setting after a pressure transmitter failed in the unit causing a pressure control valve to fail into closed position. Once this valve did not move to open position, the pressure within the Debutanizer Column built up and over pressured causing the RV to relieve as designed. To help relieve the pressure in the debutanizer column and to stop the RV from relieving the material was routed to the flare. Isobutane, Isobutene, N-Butane, Propane, and Propylene were potentially released from Motiva's Residual Catalytic Cracking Unit's (RCCU) Elevated Flare (FE-201).
Discharge Preventable - Under Investigation
Notes/Remedial Actions
Data gathering to perform calculations and investigation are ongoing. Shell will provide and update within 60 days as required by LAC 33:1:3925.A.3.
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