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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #106230
State Police #08-03314
Accident Date2008-06-06
Report Date 2008-06-13
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide1h 37mFurnace emmision deviationNOYESNO1,255.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

The hydrogen sulfide analyzer for the NSPS fuel gas system indicated that the hydrogen sulfide levels in the fuel gas system increased. It was not initially known if the analyzer reading was accurate because there was no alarm indication for the operator of any unit malfunction that could have caused the elevated hydrogen sulfide levels. The source of the high hydrogen sulfide was due to a valve misalignment on the T-301 MEA scrubber at the #2 Light Ends Unit. Sour gas was inadvertently lined up through the scrubber, which had been down for repairs, without introducing MEA into the tower. The unscrubbed gas entered the NSPS fuel gas system and caused 33 furnaces in the NSPS system to exceed their maximum permitted limits for sulfur dioxide.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

The high hydrogen sulfide stream was blocked away from the scrubber and the hydrogen sulfide level in the NSPS system dropped below the maximum allowable limit.