Shamrock Products Caused Foul Odor in the Coastal Bend
VICTORIA, TEXAS - On January 3, 2024, a valve on a petroleum product storage tank was damaged at Shamrock Products, LLC facility at the Port of Victoria. This caused a mysterious odor around seven counties in the Coastal Bend area.
In a press release by Shamrock products on Saturday, January 6, 2024, about “300 barrels of stored materials spilled into a storage berm and did not enter the Victoria Barge Canal. The material was crude oil, fuel oil, B38 (solvent) and reruns (cracked hydrocarbons). The odor was not due to H2S (hydrogen sulfide) but due to a product known as Mercaptan” also known as Methanethiol.
The National Library of Medicine has stated that “Mercaptans are volatile organic compounds widely used in various industrial processes, such as natural gas odorization, chemical manufacturing, and pharmaceutical production. Although mercaptans are generally considered to have low toxicity, exposure to high concentrations or prolonged exposure can lead to adverse health effects.”
The Goliad County Emergency Management received a notice about the spill late the following day and ordered a “Shelter in Place” in Goliad County until the source of the contamination could be confirmed.
The incident was not immediately reported to local officials in Victoria/Goliad County. Some residents reported strong odors throughout the region and various local and state agencies actively began conducting air quality tests.
An anonymous call on the evening of January 4, 2024, to the Victoria Office of Emergency Management received information related to the accidental release of crude oil at Shamrock Products, LLC.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is the lead agency investigating the cleanup response.
If you are in the affected area and are experiencing dizziness, headache, nausea, or other respiratory symptoms consistent with exposure to crude oil, contact your primary health care provider or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
For more information, visit the TCEQ website at https://www.tceq.texas.gov.