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Shell Chemical East (26336), Norco

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #159530
State Police #14-04704
Accident Date2014-10-18
Report Date 2014-10-23
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
1,3-Butadiene2d 3h 15mBD5 UnitNONOYESBRQ

Accident Classified As: Below Reportable Quantity (BRQ)

Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures

On October 18, 2014, Shell Chemical's BD5 Unit flared butadiene heavy ends (BDHE) at the OL5 Ground Flare (FG-101). The process filters in Shell Chemical's OL5 Unit plugged from coke being in the system. To safely change the filters, the feed to the OL5 furnaces was reduced. In order to reduce the feed to the furnaces at OL5, an alternative routing for BDHE one of the OL5's feeds, is controlled to the flare. BDHE were routed to the flare during the furnace feed reductions at OL5 to change the unit's process filters. Flaring of BDHE during unit maintenance is a permitted activity.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Report states that flaring was permitted and no reportable quantities or permit limits were exceeded. No information given about preventability.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Report states that flaring was permitted and no reportable quantities or permit limits were exceeded. No information given about remedial actions.