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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge
Causal Factor: Weather
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 82473 2005-09-24 | Wastewater treatment tanks | Cause: On September 24, 2005 there were high levels in the Wastewater Treatment Tanks. The levels in these tanks were high because of rain from Hurricane Rite, but have since been returned to manageable levels. Followup: No Notes: The tanks did not overfill and no limits were exceeded Amount of wastewater released is unknown. | |
| 109662 2008-09-01 | Weather | Cause: Due to the hurricane they are experiencing heavy flaring with visible smoke. Followup: Notes: | |
| 109663 2008-09-01 | Weather | Cause: Due to hurricane Gustav they lost a Nitrogen Oxides suppression steam to high temperature setting. Followup: Notes: They are continuing to operate until they can re-start the unit. Over 1000 pounds of nitrogen oxides were released. | Nitrogen Oxide: 1,000.0 pounds |
| 108484 2008-09-01 | No Information Given | Cause: Followup: No Notes: Due to the hurricane they were experiencing heavy flaring with visible smoke. They said they will keep the state police advised. Just SPOC report. | |
| 108463 2008-08-31 | None Reported | Cause: Due to Hurricane Gustav, the production was shut down and incinerator treatment was down. Followup: No Notes: Due to Hurricane Gustav the production was shut down at 7 am on 8/30/08 and the incinerator treatment down at 7 am on 8/31/08. No mention of any release. | |
| 143542 2012-08-29 | NIG | Cause: Several title V operating permit compliance matters and potential RQ exceedances resulting from upset conditions caused by Hurricane Isaac:
During a post-hurricane Isaac storm survey, the PV vent on Tank 867 was discovered leaking. Emissions from the PV vent were approximately 49 pounds of flammable vapor.
During a post-hurricane Isaac storm survey, socks on floating roof tank 783 were found missing and/or torn as a result of high winds. The missing/torn socks were replaced on September 19, 2012. Emissions from the missing/torn tank socks were approximately 1.9 pounds of VOC.
During a post-hurricane Isaac storm survey, multiple tank hatches were discovered either missing or open as a result of high winds.
Due to Hurricane Isaac, the Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) analyzers may have experienced less than 90% data availability. Also the data calibration drift check on the analyzers may have been missed.
The HFU TTU was bypassed for approximately 1 hour due to failure to maintain TTU temperature of 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. This bypass resulted in approximately 0.08 tons of hexane being released. Followup: Yes Notes: There were several compliance matters and potential RQ exceedances resulting from upset conditions caused by Hurricane Isaac. The PV vent on Tank 867 was repaired and returned to service on September 5,2012. The missing socks on tank 783 were replaced on Septermber 19, 2012. The tank hatches that were discovered missing were replaced as soon as possible to prevent any further emissions to the atmosphere. The tank that were found open were closed and remonitored using the HAWK camera. In attachment 1 of the written notification you will find a summary of the emissions from the tank hatches that were discovered missing or open. remediation of Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) - EMCP is working to determine the extent to which the CEMS analyzers may have malfunctioned before, during, and after the storm. This information will be included in the CEMS quarterly report. HFU TTU was bypassed for approximately 1 hour resulting in a hexane release. The letter from EMCP asks that LDEQ exercise enforcement discretion and no such penalties be issued for actions and events related to Hurricane Isaac response and recovery efforts. LABB has the 30 day follow up report, as well as the subsequent LDEQ verbal report, but no subsequent written notifications that serve as a follow up to clarify the total pollutants released from the tank hatches that still needed to be repaired as of the October 4th written notification. | Flammable Vapor: 49.0 pounds Water: 11.0 gallons Ketones: 0.0 pounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 400.2 pounds Hexane: 160.0 pounds |
| 148693 2013-05-05 | No Information Given | Cause: On May 5 at approximately 4:20 AM, the ECLA-W unit HC-01 compressor tripped due to low lube oil pressure. The compressors' automatic trip system detected the low lube oil pressure and tripped the machine. The compressor valves on the suction side automatically opened to relieve pressure to the flare. Subsequently, a unit upset on the downstream unit, EPLA-W caused the atmospheric safety valve to lift, and briefly flare off-specification ethylene product. Followup: No Notes: Immediate remedial action was to reduce the feed rates to minimum and the furnacys were put in standby to further reduce flaring until the compressor was restarted. Improvements are being made to assist operators in detecting low lube oil pressure and refresher training will be conducted to improve controller response. | Ethylene: 333.0 pounds Flammable Vapor: 2,712.0 pounds |
| 155065 2014-04-07 | No information given | Cause: This event is also associated with state police numbers 14-01528 and 14-01529.
During a severe thunderstorm on 4/7/14, the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant (BRCP) experienced an electrical power interruption, resulting in unit upsets and temporary flaring (state police number 14-01528).
A subsequent notification (state police number 14-01529) was made regarding releases from safety valves directly to the atmosphere. It has been confirmed that these safety valves relieved to the site's flare system and not directly to the atmosphere. A detailed investigation is underway to confirm root causes of the power trip and provide recommendations to prevent recurrence. Followup: Yes Notes: Upon restoration of power, impacted equipment was restarted and returned to normal operating conditions. | Propylene: 363.0 pounds |
| 153625 2014-01-30 | benzene storage tank | Cause: On January 30, 2014, a flange leaked on a benzene storage tank due to the freezing weather.
Some of the leaked benzene went into a sewer drain that leads to the facility's waste water treatment. Followup: No Notes: The leaking flange was secured. | Benzene: 2.0 pounds |
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