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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #93999
State Police #07-00759
Accident Date2007-02-16
Report Date 2007-02-23
Follow-up Date 0000-00-00
Follow-up: 

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Propylene3h 47mRich Stage Absorber TowerNONOYES468.0 pounds
Isopropyl alcohol3h 47mRich Stage Absorber TowerNONONO892.0 pounds
Sulfuric Acid3h 47mRich Stage Absorber TowerNONONO1,436.0 pounds
Water3h 47mRich Stage Absorber TowerNONONO495.0 pounds
Propane3h 47mRich Stage Absorber TowerNONOYES468.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Equipment Failure

While making routine rounds, an assistant operator on the Isopropyl Alcohol Unit discovered a leak on the sixth level of the Rich Stage Absorber Tower. The leak was caused by a failure of the thermowell assembly.

Discharge Preventable - No

The thermowell assembly that failed was new, having just been installed on the tower in October of 2006, along with six other thermowell assemblies. The thermowell assembly consists of a thermowell and protective sheath. Test reports were reviewed and confirmed to be of the correct metallurgy. After the tower was shut down, other thermowell assemblies in the same service were inspected and showed no signs of corrosion or wear.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Personnel immediately began to isolate and shut down the tower. Elevated fire monitors were activated which sprayed water on the release to minimize emissions to the air. Feed was blocked out of the tower, the liquid drained to other process equipment, and the tower was depressured to the gas recovery system. The failed thermowell assembly was replaced. The failed thermowell assemblly was sent to an outside lab for metallurgical analysis to determine the cause of the failure.