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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Accident #152611
State Police #13-05273
Accident Date2013-11-27
Report Date 2013-12-04
Follow-up Date 2014-01-27
Follow-up: Yes

Pollutants Released

Pollutant Duration Point Source Greenhouse Gas Criteria Pollutant Ozone forming chemical Amount of Release
Sulfur Dioxide11 hr 5 minSulfur ComplexNOYESNO1,057.0 pounds

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

On November 27, the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery Sulfur Complex experienced an operational upset as a result of hydrocarbon carry over from the Sour Water Stripper #1 (SWS #1) in the feed to the SRLA unit. Since emissions in the tail gas routed to the vent increased, the tail gas was diverted from the vent to the incinerators to minimize overall environmental impact. Immediately upon the upset, feed to the Sulfur Complex was reduced by cutting unit production rates from other operating units within the Refinery. Air monitoring was conducted every four hours for the duration of the incident. The SWS #1 is preceded by a coalescer that separates water from hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbon is drawn off the top of the drum and the water from the bottom of the drum is routed to the SWS #1 for further separation. The level instrument can be verified in the field by a site glass; however, the site glass was fouled, preventing the water/oil interface from being visible in the site glass. The Reportable Quantity for Sulfur Dioxide was exceeded.

Discharge Preventable - Yes

Notes/Remedial Actions

Tail gas was diverted to the incinerators to minimize environmental impact. Feed to the Sulfur Complex was reduced by cutting unit production other operating units within the Refinery. Confirmed level instrument operations on SWS #1 coalescer. ExxonMobil will replace SWS #1 coalescer site glasses with fouling resistant gauges.