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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Chalmette Refining (1376), Chalmette

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Corrosion

On Monday, April 15, 2013, at approximately 1745 hours, Chalmette Refinery L.L.C. (CRLLC) personnel observed a small visible sheen at Outfall 012 due to small, intermittent droplets of oil, immediate notifications were made to the appropriate agencies and US Environmental deployed containment and absorbent boom to contain and collect the sheen. An investigation determined that the source of the leak was from the lube oil cooler exchanger E464 for natural gas motor K401. The exchanger was immediately isolated at 1815 hours. The root cause of the failure was determined to be chloride stress corrosion cracking and chloride pitting after visual inspection of the pipe. Lube oil was released to the river as a liquid.

Discharge Preventable - No

CRLLC had no indication a leak would develop in the exchanger system from chloride stress corrosion.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Exchanger E464 was immediately isolated once it was determined to be the source of the leak. Trace, residual droplets still in the pipe after the exchanger system was isolated were observed until approximately 1100 hours on April 16, 2013. The root cause of the failure was determined to be chloride stress corrosion cracking and chloride pitting after visual inspection of the pipe. The metallurgy was changed to more chloride resistant material to prevent future recurrence. The company classified this accident as exceeding state police and DEQ RQs, but the amount reportedly released was less than the 1 barrel (42 gallon) RQ. LABB has accessed the 60 day follow up, but not the initial written discharge which was dated 4/21/13.