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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #86548
State Police #06-01624
Accident Date2006-03-16
Report Date 2006-03-22
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: No

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Nitrogen Dioxide24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNOYESYES9.0 pounds
Nitrogen Oxide24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNOYESYES50.0 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNOYESNO180.0 pounds
Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES121.0 pounds
Hydrocarbon24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES281.0 pounds
Butadiene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES1.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO1.0 pounds
Methane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitYESNOYES14.0 pounds
Ethylene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES2.0 pounds
Ethane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES7.0 pounds
Propylene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES81.0 pounds
Propane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES316.0 pounds
Butane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES9,978.0 pounds
Isobutylene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES5,742.0 pounds
1-Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES5,058.0 pounds
1,3-Butadiene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES288.0 pounds
n-Butane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO5,276.0 pounds
trans-2-Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO6,380.0 pounds
2,2-Dimethylpropane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES4.0 pounds
cis-2-Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO4,671.0 pounds
3-Methyl-1-Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES423.0 pounds
Isopentane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES4,005.0 pounds
1-Pentene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES543.0 pounds
2-Methyl-1-Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES917.0 pounds
n-Pentane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO496.0 pounds
Isoprene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES42.0 pounds
trans-2-Pentene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO653.0 pounds
cis-2-Pentene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONONO318.0 pounds
2-Methyl-2-Butene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES691.0 pounds
1-t-3-Pentadiene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES15.0 pounds
1,3-Cyclopentadiene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES14.0 pounds
2,2-Dimethylbutane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES8.0 pounds
Cyclopentene24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES64.0 pounds
Cyclopentane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES22.0 pounds
2,3-Dimethylbutane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES3.0 pounds
2-Methylpentane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES24.0 pounds
3-Methylpentane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES11.0 pounds
Cyclohexane24 mFLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation UnitNONOYES509.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Human Factors

The Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether Unit was converted to an Alkylation Feed Preparation Unit (AFP). The AFP was beginning its initial start up. As the level in one of the towers increased, steam was added to the reboiler to begin producing overhead product. During this time, the safety valves on the tower began relieving to the flare system, which resulted in the reported flare. During the conversion of the unit the overhead pressure meter was reranged in the field, but was no reranged in the control room. Due to this oversight the operator believed he was at a significantly lower pressure and did not immediately discover that the safety valves on the tower had lifted to the flare system. The calculations automtically completed by the flare system

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

The cause of the accident is listed as preventable in the company's report, but there is no explanation whatsoever as to why it was preventable - that section is blank. The only remedial measure listed is that the pressure meter range was corrected in the control room. The letter to LDEQ states that reportable quantities of nitrogen oxide and butenes were exceeded.