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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #86579
State Police #06-01648
Accident Date2006-03-18
Report Date 2006-03-24
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
Water28hEast Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E)NONONO3,493.0 pounds
Hydrogen Sulfide28hEast Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E)NONONO399.0 pounds
Ethane28hEast Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E)NONOYES412.0 pounds
Methane28hEast Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E)YESNOYES407.0 pounds
Hydrogen28hEast Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E)NONONO127.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)28hEast Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E)NONOYES18,121.0 pounds

Accident Classified As:

Cause of Problem: Human Factors

-Exchanger on the East Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E) was leaking into a cooling tower. The seating surface and gasket on the floating head were upgraded during the turnaround. Operations personnel installed the exchanger correctly . However, when the exchanger was worked offsite, the contracting company installed the wrong bolts in the floating head of the exchanger. The bolts broke due to wet hydrogen sulfide cracking which caused the exchanger to leak. Note: the accident started at 10:00am on 03/17/06 but was not discovered until 1:50pm on 03/18/2006

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. In the report it does state that further investigation of the incident is currently being conducted. Remedial measure are listed as - the exchanger bolts replaced with appropriate material for the predetermined run length. Reportable quantities were exceeded for hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds