Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


Valero (26003), Norco

Causal Factor: Other

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date		 Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
77067

2009-02-18		Fluid catalytic cracker off gas pipeline
Cause: Originally thought to be Starting up unit after maintenance turn around. Follow up states that upon investigation discovered a leak on the fluid catalytic cracker off gas pipeline.

Followup: No

Notes: Courtesy notice
82120

2005-09-12		Flare 1 EIQ 15-77; Flare 2 EIQ 12-81
Cause: Loss of power, control valves failed. Power interruption caused by 3rd party electricity provider. Battery back up system damaged when it received a power surge during restart of refinery after Hurricane Katrina.

Followup: Yes

Notes: reduced feed rates to our West Plant		Sulfur Dioxide: 3,641.0 pounds
Carbon Monoxide: 188.0 pounds
Nitrous Oxide: 24.0 pounds
Particulate Matter: 1.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds: 40.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide: 19,400.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2005-08-08		Fuel Gas System Heater
Cause: Diesel backed up in the fuel gas system resulting in the Crude Heater emitting smoke.

Followup: No

Notes: Courtesy notice
76182

2005-01-13		No Information Given
Cause: Loss of steam caused by a lack of water from the boiler water feed pumps. Pump suctions were plugged. Yarway valves were worn and were by passing more water to the pump suction drum than expected. Both resulting in low water flow to the boilers.

Followup: Yes

Notes: NO original incident report in this file. Instituted additional procedures to require personnel to measure pump suction pressure during routine rounds to determine whether or not the pump suction is plugged. Added procedures to monitor the discharge pressure of the Yarway valves to ensure proper operation. INstalled an alarm ont he control valve to indicate for low water discharge. conditions. There was		Sulfur Dioxide: 12,800.0 pounds



92855

2006-12-27		Coker unit
Cause: Process safety valve associated with the wet gas compressor in the Coker Unit lifted and diverted gas to the refinery flare system Reason that process safety valve lifted is Under Investigation.

Followup: Yes

Notes: SO2 released from flares and dispersed. Emissions were minimized by first isolating the PSV and then resealing it.		Sulfur Dioxide: 2,280.0 pounds
92308

2006-11-28		Thermal oxidizer
Cause: Thermal oxidizer had lost the flame and there was a possibility of Hydrogen Sulfide exceedance. After review, found BRQ.

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ.
88153

2006-05-23		None Reported
Cause: see notes. Flange fire in our CCR unit. Quickly extinguished.

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ.
86961

2006-04-04		None Reported
Cause: see notes. Experiencing power dips from Entergy due to a fire at another facility.

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ.
85824

2006-02-14		None Reported
Cause: Coker D drum had developed a crack that allowed vapors to be released into the atmosphere.

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emissions were BRQ.
111449

2008-12-15		MSCCU
Cause: during catalyst removal from MSCCU, a breach of containment resulted in release of catalyst to ground and nearby areas

Followup: Yes

Notes: Stopped catalyst removal process immediately and clean up the impacted area. Revise catalyst loading and unloading procedure to require gauging of hoppers with a temperature gun or heat scan to allow the level to be tracked with less frequent manual gauging. Set up a log to make sure procedure is followed.		Arsenic: 80.0 pounds
111397

2008-12-12		None Reported
Cause: leak from MSCCU Reactor Secondary Cyclone

Followup: No

Notes: Steam applied to leak immediately.
111397

2008-12-12		MSCCU Reactor Secondary Cyclone
Cause: pinhole leak on MSCCU Reactor Secondary Cyclone

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emission were BRQ.		Sulfur Dioxide: 287.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide: 6.0 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide: 287.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide: 6.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2008-12-07		Prospect Tank Farm Alkylate Tank 150-26
Cause: Prospect Tank Farm Alkylate Tank 150-26 had a weep hole

Followup: No

Notes: Tank taken out of service for inspection and repair		Alkylate: 20.0 gallons
110405

2008-10-27		12 inch hose
Cause: 12

Followup: Under Investigation

Notes: NA
107876

2008-08-08		Chemical tote
Cause: a chemical tote being carried on a forklift fell on the ground and began leaking after forklift hit a pothole.

Followup: No

Notes: Material was neutralized using soda ash.		Sulfuric Acid: 125.0 gallons
105908

2008-05-27		71A Refrigerant Condenser
Cause: VOC leak from process unit in cooling tower

Followup: No

Notes: Condenser was isolated and is in the process to be repaired [sic]. Follow-up letter states that emissions were BRQ.		Volatile Organic Compounds: 3,312.0 pounds
104105

2008-03-22		Tank T-150-18
Cause: leak in tank farm of unknown origin

Followup: No

Notes: vacuum trucks deployed to remove material. Remaining crude oil in tank transferred to another tank. Water used to separate oil from leak point.		Crude Oil: 714.0 gallons
103676

2008-03-06		Wastewater Treatment Unit
Cause: a wastewater secondary clarifier bottoms tank overflowed.

Followup: No

Notes: vacuum trucks deployed to remove material. Personnel aided in clean up, removed surface sediments for disposal.		Crude Oil: 42.0 gallons
103290

2008-02-21		Sour Water Stripper Acid Gas Valve
Cause: pinhole leak on MSCCU Reactor Secondary Cyclone

Followup: No

Notes: Letter states that emission were BRQ.