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Valero (26003), Norco
Releases in 2005
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source/Release | Cause | Notes |
| 77067 2009-02-18 | Point Source(s): Fluid catalytic cracker off gas pipeline Pollutant(s):Hydrocarbon - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Other 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. | Courtesy notice |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-10-30 | Point Source(s): Acid sewer line Pollutant(s):Sulfuric Acid - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Crack in the spent acid sewer line sent acid into soil. | The acid sewer has been removed from service. Need to test soil and groundwater and measure quanitity and disclose cause. |
| 83352 2005-10-23 | Point Source(s): Flare 1 EIQ 15-77; Flare 2 EIQ 12-81 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 8,000 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset The wet gas compressor tripped due to a high level in the suction drum. | Emissions were minimized by cutting crude rats and restarting the coker WGC. |
| 83027 2005-10-12 | Point Source(s): Sulfuric Acid Alkylation Unit Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No Information Given | Courtesy notice |
| 82697 2005-10-01 | Point Source(s): Wet Gas Compressor Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 3,008 pounds Particulate Matter - 1 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 8 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds - 37 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 98 pounds Nitrogen Oxide - 18 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Wet gas compressor tripped due to sudden loss of lube oil pressure. Gas processed by compressor was directed to flare. | Still under investigation - no procedures or preventative measures identified. |
| 82120 2005-09-12 | Point Source(s): Flare 1 EIQ 15-77; Flare 2 EIQ 12-81 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 3,641 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 188 pounds Nitrous Oxide - 24 pounds Particulate Matter - 1 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds - 40 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 19,400 pounds | Cause of Problem: Other 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. | reduced feed rates to our West Plant |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-08-08 | Point Source(s): Fuel Gas System Heater Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Other Diesel backed up in the fuel gas system resulting in the Crude Heater emitting smoke. | Courtesy notice |
| 80516 2005-07-14 | Point Source(s): T-150-8 pump Pollutant(s):Slurry Oil - 2,100 gallons | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing A half inch section of pipe that connects the T-150-8 pump to a pressure gauge had broken off the pump while the pump was in service. | Oil entrained in the soil is being removed by excavation for discposal in a non-hazardous waste landfill. Investigation not complete. Promised to collect soil samples showing the cleanup levels achieved. |
| 80318 2005-07-06 | Point Source(s): Flare 1 EIQ 15-77; Flare 2 EIQ 12-81 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 0 pounds Hydrogen Sulfide - 0 | Cause of Problem: Weather Power failure caused a shut down as a result of tropical storm Cindy. | |
| 78904 2005-05-07 | Point Source(s): Flare 1 EIQ 15-77; Flare 2 EIQ 12-81 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 13,646 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 1,910 pounds Nitrous Oxide - 351 pounds Particulate Matter - 11 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds - 723 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure During startup of unit, one wet gas compressor failed to start as expected due to unanticipated electrical problems. Process gases normally routed through this compressor were diverted to the flare. | Compressor repaired as quickly as possible.Air filter clogged with debris. Inspection of air filter has been added to preventative maintenance schedule. |
| 78673 2005-04-29 | Point Source(s): Pipe Pollutant(s):Oil - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing A possible pipe failure involving crude spraying and spilling on the ground. | Courtesy Notification. No reportable quantity of crude oil lost. Incident report and letter from refinery included. |
| 78487 ; 78475 ; 78488 2005-04-23 | Point Source(s): Flare 1 EIQ 15-77 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 4,292 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 588 pounds Nitrous Oxide - 108 pounds Particulate Matter - 3 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds - 223 pounds | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure MSCCU wet gas compressors tripped due to problems with common lube oil system. | Reduced feed rate to MSCCU. Issue involves wet gas compressor as seen before. Follow up report sent on June 6, 2005 with remedies: redesign of the nitrogen regulator and replacement of the pressure controller on the lube oil system |
| 78326 2005-04-16 | Point Source(s): Coker Unit Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Shutting Down Coker unit for maintenance turnaround | None |
| 78141 2005-04-10 | Point Source(s): Flare 1 EIQ 15-77 Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 11,033 pounds Carbon Monoxide - 1,379 pounds Nitrous Oxide - 253 pounds Particulate Matter - 8 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - 522 pounds | Cause of Problem: Process Upset Compressor tripped due to low lube oil differntial pressure on the 2nd stage of the compressor. Root cause investigation not complete at the time | Total pounds emitted from both flares. Remedial actions of reducing feed rate and reducing the reaction temperature so that the offgas to the flare can be reduced. No procedures or preventive measures identified at that time. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-03-29 | Point Source(s): Reactor drums Pollutant(s):Asbestos - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Maintenance/Procedures During demolition project involving five reactor drums purchased by the previous owner of Valero Refinery, a previous enclosed layer of asbestos containing insulation material revealed. | Valero's response to OSHA complaint alleging hazards - asbestos release into air exposing employees. Demolition ceased and abatement scheduled according to regulations. |
| No LDEQ Number Available 2005-03-13 | Point Source(s): No Information Given Pollutant(s):Oil and Coke Dust - BRQ | Cause of Problem: No Information Given No Information Given | verbal report complaint from resident that Valero keeps spraying oil and coke dust into the air and it gets on his car. |
| 76658 2005-02-01 | Point Source(s): None Reported Pollutant(s): | Cause of Problem: Weather Due to Heavy rains and rising pond levels, wastewater effluent had to be discharged to the Lake Ponchatrain Basin | Data file did not include Incident Report signed by Valero. Hence no Incident Report #. |
| 76674 2005-01-26 | Point Source(s): West Plant Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure Lost a charge pump on West side of plant | Courtesy notice |
| 76465 2005-01-26 | Point Source(s): No Information Given Shutting Down part of refinery Pollutant(s):Elemental Sulfur - BRQ Hydrogen Sulfide - BRQ BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Start Up, Shut Down Shutting Down part of refinery | Courtesy notice |
| 76469 2005-01-25 | Point Source(s): Heater 1501 B Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - BRQ Volatile Organic Compounds - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing Tube leak at heater H-1501-B | Courtesy notice. Shutting down unit. |
| 76407 2005-01-24 | Point Source(s): Coker wet gas compressor Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 23,000 pounds | Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure The WGC tripped several times due to a high level indication in the interstage drum. This indication was a fase reading due to an accumulation of debris in the level chamber of the radar detector. | Will place the level chamber on a cleaning schedule to facilitate the removal of debris no later than April 15, 2005. |
| 76182 2005-01-13 | Point Source(s): No Information Given Pollutant(s):Sulfur Dioxide - 12,800 pounds Carbon Monoxide - BRQ Volatile Organic Compounds - BRQ Nitrous Oxide - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Other 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. | 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 |
| 76115 2005-01-12 | Point Source(s): Coker Amine Unit Pollutant(s):BRQ - BRQ | Cause of Problem: Process Upset High Hydrogen Sulfide in refinery fuel due to a coker amine contactor upset | The upset was successfully corrected in a controlled manner |
| 76116 2005-01-11 | Point Source(s): T-150-5 transfer pump Pollutant(s):Vacuum Bottoms, Gas Oil, 6 Oil - 210 gallons | Cause of Problem: Instrument Failure Pressure gauge on T-150-5 transfer pump broke off allowing oil to spill from the tank | No original incident report.Pump was shut down and blocked in. Vacuum trucks were dispatched to recover free soil, the tank was cleaned of any oil clinging to the side, and crews began excavating any contaminated soil. |
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