Home Search Emissions Pollutants About the Database


ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #123193
State Police #No Information Given
Accident Date2010-05-03
Report Date 2010-05-10
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
Propylene18 d 3 h 30 mExchanger-18XNONOYES7,258.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)18 d 3 h 30 mExchanger-18XNONOYES6,678.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: No Information Given

Cause of Problem: Piping or Tubing

On 4/15/10 the Baton Rouge Complex sampled cooling tower #33 for MACT CC compliance using the El Paso cooling tower sample method, as required by refinery operations. Cooling tower #33 is located in the refinery and services both refinery and chemical plant units. The sample results from 4/15 showed more hydrocarbon than expected, so the tower was resampled on 4/16. These results also indicated a hydrocarbon leak.

Discharge Preventable - No

Notes/Remedial Actions

The unit personnel began looking for the source under the premise that the release had to be repaired within 45 days, as required by MACT CC. On 4/3/10, the leaking exchanger (E-18X) was identified as the leak source. The exchanger is part of the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant so MACT CC provisions do not apply. Once the leaking exchanger was identified, the release calculations were updated based on the actual stream speciation. These updated calculations relevealed that the release was larger than orginially calculated using the EL Paso method and exceeded the reportable quantity for propylene. RQ for VOC was not exceeded. The exchanger bundle will be repaired before returning to service. Cooing tower MACT CC sampling procedures will also be updated for cooling towers that service both refinery and chemical plant units. Caused by an unforseen exchanger leak. Release of HRVOC during ozone reason, will take up upon next inspection.