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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #113891
State Police #09-01593
Accident Date2009-04-01
Report Date 2009-04-08
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
Sulfur Dioxide45munspecified flareNOYESNO857.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

Flaring was caused by an overhead condenser leak at the PCLA complex. The overhead material at the PCLA fractionator is cooled using cooling tower water. A leak developed in these condensers which caused cooling tower water to enter the shell side of the overhead condensers. When the cooling tower water evaporated, salts and foulant were deposited in the process side of the overhead condensers, causing an increase in pressure drop. This increase in pressure drop caused the fractionator pressure to increase, and eventually exceed the set pressure of the pressure relief valves. The pressure relief valves released fractionator overhead into the flare gas recovery system, resulting in flaring. Sulfur Dioxide was released to the atmosphere in exceedance of the reportable quantity.

Discharge Preventable - No

The flaring occurred as the result of overhead condensers leaking after a routine water wash. There was no sign of significant leakage in these overhead condensers.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Unit pressure and unit feed rates were reduced to minimize overhead gas rates and eliminate flaring. Release exceeds RQ.