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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #111420
State Police #08-07887
Accident Date2008-12-15
Report Date 2008-12-22
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
Flammable Vapor9mOpelousas Natural Gas headerNONOYES2,951.5 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

An atmospheric safety valve was lifted on the Opelousas Natural Gas header at the Baton Rouge Refinery. The pressure of this header is maintained via a control valve which lets down high pressure natural gas to a low pressure natural gas header. The control valve that connected the high and low pressure headers failed and remained in an open position, resulting in increased pressures in the low pressure header. As the pressure increased, the controller called for the start of a booster compressor. Neither of the two booster compressors started immediately, resulting in the lifting of the low pressure header safety valve, resulting in the release.

Discharge Preventable - No

The release occurred due to a failed control valve.

Notes/Remedial Actions

The energy booster compressor was started and pressure control was swapped to a separate control valve. This release exceeded the flammable vapor RQ.