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Accident # | 154582 |
State Police # | 14-01206 |
Accident Date | 2014-03-17 |
Report Date | 2014-03-19 |
Follow-up Date | 2014-05-14 |
Follow-up: | Yes |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Carbon Monoxide | 6h 10m | Primary depropanizer and debutanizer columns in OL5 Unit | NO | YES | NO | 531.0 pounds |
Nitrogen Oxide | 6h 10m | Primary depropanizer and debutanizer columns in OL5 Unit | NO | YES | YES | 97.0 pounds |
Particulate Matter | 6h 10m | Primary depropanizer and debutanizer columns in OL5 Unit | NO | YES | NO | 18.0 pounds |
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | 6h 10m | Primary depropanizer and debutanizer columns in OL5 Unit | NO | NO | YES | 378.0 pounds |
1,3-Butadiene | 6h 10m | Primary depropanizer and debutanizer columns in OL5 Unit | NO | NO | YES | 120.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
On 3/17/2014, Shell Chemical's OL5 Unit flared process gas at the OL5 Ground Flare due to fluctuations in temperatures on the primary depropanizer and the debutanizer columns. The fluctuations in the temperatures at the primary depropanizer and debutanizer columns affected the pressure of the columns. Hydrocarbons from the depropanizer column were routed to the debutanizer column causing the pressure of the debutanizer column to rise and relieve to the OL5 Ground Flare (EPN 7-84).
The incident was not preventable as the temperature fluctuations on the depropanizer and debutanizer columns were unexpected.
To minimize additional unit upset conditions and impacts, additional furnaces within the unit were put into operation. This minimized the temperature fluctuations and the OL5 Unit was safely stabilized and able to return to normal operations. No specific remedial actions have been taken or planned at this time. Values for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) includes Highly Reactive VOCs (HRVOCs), including specifically Propylene and Ethylene. These HRVOC's exceeded LADEQ RQ values, but were not reported individually.
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