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Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #79529
State Police #05-03628
Accident Date2005-06-02
Report Date 2005-06-09
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
Nitric Oxide2h 32mHydrocracker Light Ends Plant Butane Splitter TowerNOYESNO11.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

The Hydrocracker Light Ends Plant (LEP) Butane Splitter Tower began to overpressure; moves in operating temperature and pressure on the LEP Depropanizer, actuated by the refinery advanced system controls system, allowed propane to exit via Depropanizer Bottoms, to the Butane Splitter, which is not designed to off-gas light materials such as propane.

Discharge Preventable - No

Notes/Remedial Actions

Cooler back flushing was conducted in order to ensure that maximum cooling was available. Refinery personnel made operational adjustments that ended the incident. Various level controllers and analyzers associated with the Lep Depropanizer and Butane Splitter were checked for proper operation.