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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge

Causal Factor: No Information Given

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
No LDEQ Reported

2006-12-05
No information given.
Cause:

Followup: no

Notes: Leak occurred at plant. No RQs were exceeded.

90956

2006-09-29
vent valve
Cause: They discovered that GUP 107 vent valve was partially open to a vent into the atmosphere.

Followup:

Notes: They secured the release at 640. The computer trend history shows that it may have started on sept 28, 2006 at 1800 hours. Amount of flammable gas released is over 1000 pounds. An exact amount released is unknown.
Flammable Gas: 1,000.0 pounds
89726

2006-08-04
Pump
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: They had a leak on a pump. When they isolated that leak, they weren't using the pump so sent to flare. They expected to exceed RQ. They were trying to fix the leak. Just SPOC report.


87556

2006-05-02
Flare
Cause: The only information given by the state police report is that there was a smoking flare that seemed likely to exceed the refinery's limits.

Followup: No

Notes: The state police report calls this an "opacity report" that was made in order to satisfy the DEQ reporting requirements. The LABB file does not contain the LDEQ report.

86795

2006-03-09
Methane relief valve on POX heat-up-gun header
Exchanger
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: On 3/2706 they disocvered they had an on-going release of methane. A meter indicated the release started on 3/9/06. Methane was released at 3120 lbs/day. Methane was released at 3120 pounds per day.
Methane: 56,810.8 pounds
: 217.0 pounds
: 100.0 pounds
: 1,000.0 pounds
88524

2006-02-01
Baton Rouge Turbine Generator exhaust stack S-85
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: On 1/29/06 the BRTG unit was started up after turnaround. A fuel gas meter had been blocked in for recalibration during the turnaround. This meter is used to calculate the proper amount of nitrogen oxide suppression stream. After startup, this meter remained blocked in and was providing erroneous data to the controller, which resulted in the improper amount of nitrogen oxide suppression steam being supplied. This led to a permit deviation on the 25 PPM limit for the gas turbine generator, a regulatory deviation for the meter being unavailable, and the exceedence of RQs for nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide. The flow meter unblocked and was returned to service. The report said that the incident was under investigation. Procedures would be modified as applicable.
: 81.0 pounds
: 726.0 pounds
100166

2007-10-12
RLA-1 Process unit
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: At time of report event was still ongoing. Potential RQ for Flammable vapor. Potential RQ for VOC. Potential for highly reactive VOC. Potential for RQ for the Ethylene for DEQ of 100 lbs. There was a fire, but they called the internal fire squad as a precaution. Amount of ethylene released is unknown.


93345

2007-01-16
Exchanger
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: SPOC report intital release says that the rate of release of 1,3-Butadiene had exceeded the RQ during the 24 hour period. Release from exchanger first calculated on 1/16/17 to be around 3 lbs per day. Routine sampling and measuments indicated that the rate of release was then around 11.5 lbs/day. Estimated to continue for at least a day or two. Just SPOC report. Raining at the time of the incident.
1,3-Butadiene: 11.5 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2007-01-01
No information given.
Cause:

Followup:

Notes: Leak occurred at plant. No RQs were exceeded.

110123

2008-10-15
Storage tanks
Natural Gas blankets on tanks
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: Seepage of natural gas blanket from storage tanks occurring on 10/15/08. They were emitting it at a rate of 1005 lbs/day. Maintenance was planned for the next week. Report says no RQ exceedences.


106062

2008-05-31
vent on knockout drum
Cause: Experienced a vent opening on a knockout drum.

Followup: no

Notes: No additional information given.
: 267.5 pounds
105082

2008-04-25
reactor head
Cause: Advised of leak of "SYNTAS" on reactor head doing shut down.

Followup: No

Notes: Previous report estimated the hole as 1/4" and calculated release of 2331 lbs syngas. However further investigation revealed that the size of the hole was 1/16" and released 146 lbs syngas.
: 146.0 pounds
104297

2008-03-28
drum at NACC
Cause: They had a drum at NACC that had a pressure build up that was vented to the flare. This produced Nitrogen Oxides to the air from the flare.

Followup:

Notes: Incident is secured. .
Nitrogen Oxide: 9.0 pounds
115416

2009-06-03
No Information Given
Cause: E-201 exchanger had leak. Estimated releases were >10lbs of Benzene and >100lbs of Hydrogen sulfide

Followup: No

Notes: Just the written letter. It says that after further evaluation, it was determined that no RQs were exceeded.
>10lbs

114289

2009-04-20
furnace
Cause: Smoky furnace.

Followup: No

Notes: Smoky furnace and may contain biphenyl. May have had to shut it down. No RQs were exceeded.

113475

2009-03-18
control valve of HCE compressor
WILA tanks #8 and 9
Cause: The release was caused by the failure of a control valve downstream of the HCE compressor. The control valve downstream of the HCE compressor failed to close which caused the HCE compressor to trip off.

Followup:

Notes: Since there was no outlet for the vapor in the HCE system, the pressure built in the tanks until the pressure vents lifted, released hydrocarbon to the atmosphere. The back up hydrocarbon emissions control system which uses vacuum jets to recover the excess vapors was comissioned. Proper operation of the vacuum jets was confirmed shortly thereafter. The control valve and instrumentation will be repaired and inspected before being returned to servvice.
Benzene: 69.0 pounds
Toluene: 9.5 pounds
Ethylbenzene: 0.1 pounds
Napthalene: 1.7 pounds
Isoprene: 0.1 pounds
Cyclohexane: 0.5 pounds
129840

2011-03-13
ethylene unit (EPLA West)
Cause: There was a small flash fire due to an oil leak on the ethylene unit (EPLA West).

Followup: No

Notes: Fire was extinguished by site personnel without incident.

145263

2012-12-10
NIG
Cause: A notification letter from ExxonMobil (286) references a release of some kind contaminating surface water. No details are provided relating to how the release occurred or what specific contaminants were released.

Followup: No

Notes: ExxonMobil cites in its notification letter that the National Response Center, Baton Rouge USCG, and Water Works Warning Network were notified. The contaminant admittedly released is not provided. A release is admitted but no other details are released in addition to that it was under the reportable quantity.

145253

2012-12-08
NIG
Cause: No information given.

Followup: No

Notes: On December 8, 2012 approximately 41 pounds of dimethyl formamide (DMF) were released to the concrete and 7 pounds of DMF evaporated to the environment. The notification letter from ExxonMobil does not provide any information relating to what caused the release.
Dimethyl formamide: 48.0 pounds
143727

2012-10-10
None given
Cause: No Relevant information is provided regarding the cause of this event. Approximately 20 pounds of propylene were released as a result of this event.

Followup: No

Notes: No information given. LABB only has the 7 day letter written notification - we have not found the initial notification made to SPOC or the LDEQ verbal report.
Propylene: 20.0 pounds
134793

2012-10-01
None given
Cause: A refinery letter dated October 8, 2012 references a release that occurred at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical plant on October 1, 2012. Approximately 7.6 gallons of process as oil and 0.11 pounds of PAH's were released as a result of this event. No other information was provided in the refinery letter.

Followup: No

Notes: No reportable quantities were exceeded.
Gas Oil: 7.6 gallons
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: 0.1 pounds
143606

2012-10-01
No information given
Cause: Approximately 7.6 gallons of process gas oil and 0.11 pounds of PAHs were released as a result of this event

Followup: No

Notes: No reportable quantities were exceeded.
Process Fluids: 7.6 pounds
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: 0.1 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2012-09-12
No Information Given
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: No Information Given
Methyl Ethyl Ketone: 10.0 gallons
Butanol 2: 10.0 gallons
142355

2012-08-22
NIG
Cause: There was a release on August 23, 2012.

Followup: No

Notes: After further evaluation, we have determined that no reportable quantities were exceeded. LABB only has the 7 day letter written notification. The report fails to mention what substance was released.

142044

2012-08-11
None given
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: No information given. LABB does not have the initial verbal notification made to SPOC or the LDEQ verbal report - we only have the 7 day letter written notification.
Flammable Vapor: 52.9 pounds
138535

2012-03-31
No information given.
Cause: Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were initially reported by the facility to have exceeded one pound from a pine hole leak on a bleeder valve. Later it was determined that less than one pound of PAHs was released.

Followup: No

Notes: No reportable quantities were exceeded. No additional information given. The leak was blocked off and the chemicals were said to be transferred to an empty drum. Less than one pound of PAH were released as a result of this event.
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons: 1.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported

2012-03-22
No information given.
Cause: A total of 30 gallons of lube oil was spilled to soil as a result of this event.

Followup:

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, they have determined that no reportable quantities were exceeded.
Lube Oil: 30.0 
138107

2012-03-19
EPLA-S cooling tower
Cause: Release to EPLA-S cooling tower of 26.7 pounds o VOCs (of which 24.4 pounds were propylene).

Followup: No

Notes: No information given regarding remedial actions. Leak on EPLA-S cooling tower was tested to determine no RQs were exceeded.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 2.3 pounds
Propylene: 24.4 pounds
136849

2012-01-31
Tank 1952
Cause: oily material was discovered seeping into an excavation at Tank 1952.

Followup:

Notes: All of the material was contained within the excavation hole. All hydrocarbon material was removed and soil remediation is in progress. Tank 1952 has been emptied to prevent any further exposure to the environment. No RQs were exceeded.
Methylcyclopentadiene: 5.5 gallons
152616

2013-11-28
NIG
Cause: A release of butadiene and benzene from the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant on November 28, 2013.

Followup: No

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded.
Butadiene: 1.0 pounds
Benzene: 1.0 pounds
151451

2013-10-08
Underground pipeline
Cause: On October 8 at approximately 11 AM, a release of lubricating oil was reported. They were doing excavation work on an old, underground line. They are not sure if the excavator hit the line and caused the release or if the age of the line had caused wear that made the release. No more product was released to the soil, so they are sure it was probably residual material in the pipeline.

Followup: No

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded. Some reports estimate 1 barrel of a mixture of oil and water was released into the soil. No specific remedial actions for release onto soil given.

151038

2013-09-15
Storage tank
Cause: On September 13, there was a release of sulfuric acid from due to a leak in a storage tank. The tank leaked only into the secondary containment area.

Followup: No

Notes: No offsite impact. Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded. Less than 920 pounds of sulfuric acid were released as a result of this event.
Sulfuric Acid: 920.0 pounds
150818

2013-09-04
Tank #8
Cause: On September 4, tank #8 went above the pressure threshold resulting in a release of benzene and butadiene vapors.

Followup: No

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded.
Butadiene: 6.0 pounds
Benzene: 8.0 pounds
149925

2013-07-25
No information given
Cause: On July 25, a release of propylene occurred.

Followup: No

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded.
Propylene: 0.0 pounds
149640

2013-07-11
No Information Given
Cause: On July 11, 2013, there was a release of butadiene and benzene that occurred at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant. Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, there were no reportable quantities exceeded.

Followup: No

Notes: No information was provided in the refinery letter regarding point source or duration of the incident.
Benzene: 5.0 pounds
Butadiene: 1.0 pounds
149517

2013-07-10
No Information Given
Cause: On July 10, 2013, there was a release that occurred at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant. Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded.

Followup: No

Notes: No information was provided in the refinery letter regarding the substance released, the duration or point source.

149553

2013-07-09
No Information Given
Cause: ON July 9, 2013, there was a release that occurred at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant. Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded.

Followup: No

Notes: No information was provided in the refinery letter regarding the substance released, the duration, or the point source.

148922

2013-05-27
Tank #784
Cause: On May 27, a benzene leak was detected by infrared camera coming from tank #784.

Followup: No

Notes: No specific remedial actions given. There was an attempt to minimize vapors coming from the tank. All air monitoring results were below detectable limits, and an infrared camera inspection of the tank showed no damage. Initially 10 pounds of benzene released was detected by infrared camera and no VOCs were detected.
Benzene: 1.0 pounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 7.0 pounds
147267

2013-03-01
N/A
Cause: Personnel working on an excavation project when an odor was detected. Initial air monitoring was conducted in the area with a Drager CMS using 0.2-10 ppm chip. Initial results indicated a benzene concentration greater than 10 ppm. Additional air monitoring was conducted and results indicated measurements greater than 250 ppm benzene. The site was immediately evacuated and barricaded to prevent personnel re-entry to the area. All readings conducted by the onsite Industrial Hygienist were below the detectable limits of the monitoring equipment. There is potential for the reportable quantity for the characteristic hazardous waste D018 to be exceeded depending upon final sample results. In the 60 day follow-up, no cause of problem was stated. The Baton Rouge Chemical Plant conducted soil sampling, and all results were below the detection limit. There were no reportable quantities exceeded as a result of this event.

Followup: Yes

Notes: As a precaution, 27 employees and contractors in the area were tested for potential benzene exposure. Test results were satisfactory and and demonstrated no effects on these individuals. All potentially contaminated soil has been segregated. Until further information is available ExxonMobile is treating this material as hazardous waste pending final sample results. Immediately upon discovery, the excavation site was evacuated and all personnel working in the area was tested for potential benzene exposure. Routine testing and respiratory protection steps were implemented. The Baton Rouge Chemical Plant conducted soil sampling, and all results were below the detection limit. The soil sampling included the excavated dirt piles, all soil previously place in bins and the areas not yet excavated in the vicinity of the project site.

146606

2013-02-11
railcar
Cause: A railcar was overfilled and 0.67 barrels of a tar mixture with sulfuric acid ran out the top and fell to the ground. Initial correspondence with LDEQ indicates original estimates to be around 3 barrels. No information was provided on how the railcar was overfilled, whether it was caused by human factors or equipment design.

Followup: No

Notes:
Tar mixture with sulfuric acid: 28.1 gallons
158593

2014-09-06
No Information Given
Cause: Discovered a propylene leak at one of the systems. Release of 6 pounds of propylene and 6.5 pounds of flammable vapor.

Followup: No

Notes: No Information Given other than prompt incident response to mitigate event duration. Initial state police hotline report states that a gas detection device was being used at the time of the leak.
Propylene: 6.0 pounds
Flammable Vapor: 6.5 pounds
158152

2014-08-19
No Information Given
Cause: No information given on event. Approximately 30 pounds of flammable liquid were released as a result of this event.

Followup: No

Notes: No Information Given
Flammable Gas: 30.0 pounds
157394

2014-07-14
No information given
Cause: No reportable quantities were exceeded. Approximately 0.66 pounds of benzene were release as a result of this event.

Followup: No

Notes: There was no information given on the duration, the point source or the location of the incident.
Benzene: 0.7 pounds
157233

2014-07-03

Cause: No reportable quantities were exceeded. Approximately 70 pounds of ethylene were released as a result of this event.

Followup: No

Notes: There is no information given on the cause of the incident , where the incident occured nor the duration.
Ethylene: 70.0 pounds
156446

2014-06-02
No information given
Cause:

Followup: No

Notes: The report fails to provide an accurate description of the events that took place in regards to how the accident occurred, the duration and the location of the accident.
Propylene: 20.0 
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 40.0 
154640

2014-03-19
No Information Given
Cause: Exxon Chemical had a hole in a valve that is the source of the release. Due to prompt incident responses to mitigate the duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded.

Followup: No

Notes: As of March 19, 2014 the cause for release is unknown and is ongoing. They are in process of blocking in the line. Approximately 19 pounds of isoprene and 110 pounds of flammable vapors were released during the incident.
Isoprene: 19.0 pounds
Flammable Gas: 110.0 pounds
153822

2014-02-12

Cause: On February 12, 2014, there was a release of sodium hypochlorite to the ground.

Followup: No

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the accident, no reportable quantities were exceeded. Only information provided is from refinery letter.
Sodium Hypochlorite: 88.0 pounds