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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

On July 29, 2013 at approximately 6:33 pm, predictive modeling showed increased benzene emissions from the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant Waster Water Treatment unit (AWT). Prior to being sent to AWT for final treatment before discharge, steam cracking furnace water effluent is stripped to recover benzene. The steam stripping distillation tower experienced abnormal operations in June as a result of internal fouling. This resulted in tower temperatures lower than the minimum temperature required to efficiently remove benzene. During this period of abnormal operations, benzene levels were higher than normal but these elevated benzene levels were not detected until routine compliance samples caught at AWT were analyzed at a third party laboratory in July. Therefore, the results of these samples were not available until after tower operations were stabilized. Initial notification indicates the release lasted for approximately 7 days. Initial notification occurred 7/29/13, incident started more than a month before, 6/17/2013. A field inspection was conducted by LDEQ Inspection Division on 8/9/13 in response to this event.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

The incident was detected upon third party sample analysis of scheduled monthly environmental samples taken to track compliance with the AWT Title V permit. While the BRCP permit requires annual modeling and sampling, the site voluntarily models samples on a more frequent, monthly basis to provide a back-up monitoring program. The sample results were not available until after appropriate measures has been taken to stabilize lower operations. Stable operations were validated by samples taken on July 1, 2013 which were within historical values. The tower has been taken out of service, cleaned, and returned to service. Alarms for critical operating parameters are being updated to ensure effective benzene stripping. The sampling protocol has been modified such that ExxonMobil will receive VOC concentration within 48 hours of arrival at the third party laboratory.