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Motiva Enterprises (1406), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #156452
State Police #14-02393
Accident Date2014-06-01
Report Date 2014-06-05
Follow-up Date 2014-07-16
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Benzene23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES1.7 pounds
Ethane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES36.7 pounds
Hydrogen23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONONO66.8 pounds
Isobutane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES32.6 pounds
Isopentane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES23.8 pounds
Methane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitYESNOYES70.1 pounds
Nitrogen23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONONO2.0 pounds
n-Butane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONONO27.1 pounds
Hexane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONONO10.9 pounds
n-Pentane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONONO4.6 pounds
Propylene23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES0.2 pounds
Propane23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES46.7 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES324.9 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONONO1.7 pounds
Carbon Monoxide23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNOYESNO702.6 pounds
NOx23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNONOYES129.1 pounds
Particulate Matter23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNOYESNO24.3 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide23h 56mcharge pump, Hydrocracking UnitNOYESNO119.2 pounds

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Seal or Gasket

Motiva's Hydrocracking Unit (HCU) flared process gas at the HCU Elevated Flare (FE 301) due to the partial shutdown of the HCU. A seal leak was discovered on the charge pump on the second stage of the HCU. Due to the location of the leak, the unit had to partially shut down to complete repairs. Flaring of hydrogen will continue intermittently to stabilize the remaining operating equipment. Flaring ceased once the charge pump was repaired and the unit returned to stable operating conditions. Flaring occurred on June 1 (367 minutes) and June 7 (1069 minutes).

Discharge Preventable - No

Report states that the seal failure could not have been anticipated.

Notes/Remedial Actions

After the unit was shut down and secured, maintenance and engineering investigated and identified that a seal failure occurred. A repair plan was promptly developed and executed. Due to this incident being a repeat issue in a short period of time, Motiva chartered a full investigation. Findings from this investigation resulted in the installation of additional check valves to control pressure swings and to help manage the integrity of pump seals.