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Shell Chemical East (26336), Norco

Causal Factor: Equipment Design

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
136479

2012-01-12
Relief valve in the OL-5 Process Unit
Cause: While making an inspection round on January 12, 2012, OL-5 operators found that a relief valve in the OL-5 Process Unit was leaking out of the vent connection. Process data does not indicate that the relief valve reached a high enough pressure to open. This relief valve has a bellows and the bellows top flange ring was found to be cracked in the rolled edge. The crack was approximately 1.5" long, and is believed to be a manufacturing defect. The valve has been returned to the manufacturer for inspection.

Followup: No

Notes: The operators immediately stopped the pump that supplies the pressure to this relief valve and the relief valve was blocked in per mitigation plan. The crack was approximately 1.5" long, and is believed to be a manufacturing defect. The valve has been returned to the manufacturer for inspection. The discharged was released mainly to a stormwater concrete containment area. There is some evaporation into the atmosphere. Vacuum truck cleaned up remaining material. Only benzene was above a reportable quantity during this leak.
Benzene: 55.8 pounds
Xylene: 6.2 pounds
Hexane: 0.3 pounds
Toluene: 18.0 pounds
1,3-Butadiene: 0.7 pounds
Styrene: 4.6 pounds
Ethylbenzene: 1.7 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 52.7 pounds