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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #127927
State Police #10-06882
Accident Date2010-12-01
Report Date 2010-12-08
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
Ethylene1 d 2 h 30 mmonoethanolamine system (MEA) at the RefineryNONOYES7,346.0 pounds
Nitrogen Oxide1 d 2 h 30 mmonoethanolamine system (MEA) at the RefineryNOYESYES2,663.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

The plant receives feed streams from the Baton Rouge Refinery. The Refinery experienced an upset of its MEA system on 11/30 (SPOC #10-06865). This incident caused elevated hydrogen sulfide content of some of the plant's feed streams, resulting in off-specification products.

Discharge Preventable - No

Notes/Remedial Actions

These materials were required to be diverted to the flare system. The plant's unit operations were adjusted to minimize emissions and incident duration. The refinery's scrubbing tower T-585 was removed from service to stabilize the MEA system, allowing the plant's feed streams to return to normal hydrogen sulfide concentrations. Successful conclusion of the Refinery incident resolved the root cause of the Chemical Plant feed stream issues. Unit procedures will be evaluated for consideration of potential incidents and responses of off-specification feed streams. RQs for ethylene and nitrogen oxide were exceeded.