LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

Causal Factor: Equipment Design

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source(s)	Notes	Amount of Release
96051 / 96092 2007-05-10	#1 Flare	Cause: after renovation, a low point develops in flare line. Liquid accumulation is blown to flare during coker cycle blow down. Followup: No Notes: Letter written to rescind notification of 5/10 concerning release of SO2. Letter states that NO and NO2 were BRQ. Layout of the flare line is being checked to allow the plant to eliminate the problem	Nitrogen Oxide: 24.0 pounds
107017 2008-07-06	flange on the Number 3 Reformer Exchanger leaking at the channel head	Cause: flange leak, cause investigation is ongoing; design on the face of the gasket surface of the exchanger. Followup: No Notes: Lowered the system pressure to help mitigate the leak and shutdown the Unit.	Benzene: 22.0 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds: 700.0 pounds
117792 2009-09-06	tank	Cause: Valve stuck at the top of a tank. Followup: No Notes: RQ not exceeded. Repair was performed promptly.	Hydrogen Sulfide: 100.0 pounds
124351 2010-06-22	unspecified container	Cause: Container had defective cap, spilled "Merox Catalyst ( <30% cobalt phthalocyanine sufonate with the balance being water)" "not a listed or characteristic hazardous waste and there is no reportable quantity for the amount spilled" Followup: No Notes: BRQ. LDEQ report states that no reportable quantities were exceeded. No additional information given. LDEQ report only. No refinery letter in this file.	Catalyst: 1.0 gallons
148111 2013-04-14	FGM Compressors	Cause: On Sunday, April 14, 2013, at approximately 0843 hours, the flare gas management (FGM) compressors were shut down due to high molecular weight materials being purged to the system during the Alky Unit startup. Sulfur dioxide was released to the air. Followup: No Notes: Emissions were minimized as much as possible and the FGM compressors were returned to normal operation as soon as possible. A similar event labeled "not preventable" occurred on March 2, 2013, LDEQ number: 147101.	Sulfur Dioxide: 6,744.0 pounds
147101 2013-03-02	Flare Gas Compressor	Cause: On Saturday, March 2, 2013, at approximately 21:03 hours, the flare gas management (FGM) compressors could not be returned to service following a permitted maintenance activity due to high molecular weight in the system. The FGM compressors were not able to pump correctly with high molecular weight in the water interface and due tot he cold weather conditions the high weight material was not able to be flushed from the system. This event is considered reasonably unforseeable, therefore qualifies as an "upset" in accordance with LAC 33:507.J.Upset Conditions. Followup: No Notes: This event resulted in a release of 4724 pounds of sulfur dioxide. This exceeded sulfur dioxide's reportable quantity of 500 pounds.	Sulfur Dioxide: 4,724.0 pounds