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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #127055
State Police #10-05995
Accident Date2010-10-13
Report Date 2010-10-20
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
Highly Reactive Volatile Organic Compounds3 h 4 mHC-01 cracker compressor and 2nd stage safety valveNONOYES107.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

Two events occurred at the plant within a 24 hour period. The combined emissions from the two events exceeded the RQ for HRVOCs (ethylene and propylene). On 10/13/10 at approximately 10:44 pm, HC-01 cracker compressor tripped, and all of the Ethylene Claification-West (ECLA-W) furnace effluent was routed to the wet flare system, prompting agency notifiation (LSP incident #10-05995). The investigation showed the root cause for the event was due to a loss of lube oil pressure to the compressor during a pump swap. The emergency controls automatically shut down the compressor to prevent damage. To end the release the compessor was restarted after the lube oil pressure was returned to appropriate levels. On 10/14/10 at approximately 10:45 pm, operators identified that the HC-01 2nd stage safety valve failed to reseat properly folowing the restart of the compessor, and it was allowing additional material to enter the flare system. To end this release, the safety valve was isolated. The total HRVOC release from these two events was greater than the 100 lb RQ. The plant said they would review and/or update procedures for swapping pumps and review this incident with unit operations personnel.