LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

Shell Facility (3462), St. Rose

Releases in 2007

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source/Release	Cause	Notes
99717 2007-09-24	Point Source(s): 5-77 (St. Rose Flare) Pollutant(s): Benzene - 10 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 5,128 pounds Ethylbenzene - 1,000 pounds Hexane - 5,001 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 34 pounds Particulate Matter - 5,004 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 502 pounds Toluene - 101 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds - 5,077 pounds Xylene - 101 pounds	Cause of Problem: Power Failure Power failure allowed two pressure relief valves to open to the flare to prevent over-pressuring of the unit	The power failure was unexpected. They secured the process unit until the power was restored. Electrical support will work with the energy supplier to understand what caused the failure and take appropriate corrective action to prevent reoccurence. Word for word what happened the prior month
98868 2007-08-23	Point Source(s): EPN 5-77 St. Rose Flare Pollutant(s): Xylene - 101 Toluene - 1 pounds Hexane - 2 pounds Xylene - 2 pounds Ethylbenzene - 0 pounds Benzene - 1 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 78 pounds Particulate Matter - 4 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 8 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 21 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 12 pounds	Cause of Problem: Power Failure Power failure allowed two pressure relief valves to open to the flare to prevent over-pressuring of the unit	The power failure was unexpected. They secured the process unit until the power was restored. Electrical support will work with the energy supplier to understand what caused the failure and take appropriate corrective action to prevent it from reoccurring.
98478 2007-06-03	Point Source(s): Tank TK-8552 5-77 St. Rose Flare Tank TK-8553 Pollutant(s): Xylene - 101 Toluene - 110 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 101 pounds Ethylbenzene - 1,000 pounds Hexane - 5,027 pounds Benzene - 18 pounds Sulfur Dioxide - 513 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds - 5,686 pounds Particulate Matter - 5,019 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 112 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 5,558 pounds	Cause of Problem: Process Upset During a crude tank switch there was a unit upset when water and emulsion from a feed tank was introduced into the process, leading to the over pressuring of a de-salter vessel to the flare, a spill of water and emulsion to the water treatment facility and the shutdown of the compressor with additional flaring. During this unit upset tanks TK-8552 and TK-8553 roof legs inadvertently landed on the floor	Initial written report issued 6/20/07 but investigation revealed additional vent streams were routed to the flare so the numbers were updated on 8/14/07. To prevent this the water in the crude oil tank should have been drained prior to being placed in service. The crude tank was switched back to prevent further water and emulsion from being fed into the unit. Necessary steps were taken to clean up the wastewater treatment facility & return unit to normal. Tanks TK-8552 and TK-8553 were refilled to their normal levels. In the future, the water in the crude tank will be drained before the tank is placed into service