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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco
LDEQ Accident Report
| Accident # | 157378 |
| State Police # | 14-03065 |
| Accident Date | 2014-07-13 |
| Report Date | 2014-07-17 |
| 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 Monoxide | 11h 30m | Butane-butylene reactor, emergency depressuring valve | NO | YES | NO | 1,434.0 pounds |
| NOx | 11h 30m | Butane-butylene reactor, emergency depressuring valve | NO | NO | YES | 263.0 pounds |
| Particulate Matter | 11h 30m | Butane-butylene reactor, emergency depressuring valve | NO | YES | NO | 50.0 pounds |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | 11h 30m | Butane-butylene reactor, emergency depressuring valve | NO | NO | YES | 954.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)
Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure
A malfunction of the solenoid on the emergency depressuring valve caused a release of butylenes and highly reactive volatile organic compounds from the OL5 Ground Flare (FG-101).
Discharge Preventable - No
From the refinery letter: "This incident was not preventable by Shell Chemical LB. The malfunction of the solenoid on the emergency depressuring valve was unexpected"
Notes/Remedial Actions
Shell Chemical confirmed that no reportable quantities were exceeded. However, the maximum permitted limits for carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter were exceeded at the OL5 Ground Flare (FG-101). Solenoid was immediately replaced once the emergency depressuring valve was safely isolated from the process.
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