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Accident # | 150346 |
State Police # | 13-03584 |
Accident Date | 2013-08-12 |
Report Date | 2013-08-19 |
Follow-up Date | 2013-10-18 |
Follow-up: | Yes |
Pollutant | Duration | Point Source | Greenhouse Gas | Criteria Pollutant | Ozone forming chemical | Amount of Release |
Propylene | 7d 12h 19m | EPLA-S unit | NO | NO | YES | 5,985.0 pounds |
Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity
On August 12, a propylene leak above the reportable quantity was discovered on the ethylene unit (EPLA-S) and reported. Initial El Paso sampling indicated a leak rate of 730 lbs/day. Further refinement of the leak rate estimate indicates a current leak rate of 798 lbs/day. Investigation results indicate the exchanger had been in service for an extensive amount of time. However, the chiller is in a clean, non-corrosive service and there was no expectation that this equipment would have leaked. As discussed with LDEQ, the BRCP planned and safely executed a controlled shutdown of the EPLA-S unit.
The chiller is in a clean, non-corrosive service. There was no expectation that this equipment would have leaked.
ExxonMobil safely executed a controlled shutdown of the EPLA-S unit. To prevent recurrence, exchanger tubes were plugged as short term mitigation. The bundle will be replaced during the next scheduled unit maintenance interval. ExxonMobil was fined in 2011 for similar leaks in the ethylene unit as a part of a settlement agreement with LDEQ (Settlement Tracking No. SA-MM-13-0030).
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