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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: No Information Given

This is an update on a continuous release notification submitted by ExxonMobil on 1/18/2011. The 2011 report has the same incident number, and is filed in this database under 128655 (SERNO # 4813), without a following zero, to keep the two reports in their respective years. This report serves as written notification to comply with 40 CFR 302.8, which requires the owner or operator of facility to submit written follow up information for the verbal reporting of a continuous release(CRR). On October 10, 2010 Exxon Mobil Corporation's Baton Rouge Refinery made an initial notification to the NRC, the LA State Police Hazardous Materials Unit, the East Baton Rouge Parish Fire Department, and the LDEQ of the Refinery's continuous releases of hydrogen sulfide. Per continuous release reporting requirements, a one-time follow up report will be filed within thirty days of the anniversary of the source change. Thereafter, annual reassessments will be issued if there is a Statically Significant Increase or a change in the source of release.

Discharge Preventable - No Information Given

Notes/Remedial Actions

On March 12, 2013, a first anniversary follow-up letter to initial notifications made in February 2012 of a change in sources of the continuous releases of hydrogen sulfide with updates on these sources and amount release. In addition to continuous release from furnaces and incinerators, ExxonMobil identified the potential for hydrogen sulfide to be present in selected crude and process oil streams. Exxon Mobil has submitted a permit renewal to the LDEQ to incorporate hydrogen sulfide emissions in crude tanks. For 2012-2013, estimates for the rate of release of hydrogen sulfide ranged from 5 lb/day to 14 lb/day from furnaces and incinerators. This corresponds to annual emissions of 1825 lbs for the lower bound and 5110 lbs for the upper bound. LABB researchers have averaged these two estimates for the release amount here. ExxonMobil's total estimate of hydrogen sulfide releases from crude tanks was 54 lb for the year, which is slightly below the lower bound rate of 0.15 lb/day. The lower bound for daily emissions is .15 lbs/day and the upper bound is .58 lb/s day. This corresponds to annual emissions of 54.75 lbs for the lower bound and 211.7 lbs for the upper bound. LABB researchers have averaged these two estimates for the release amount included here.