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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge
Releases of Butane
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 05-BB009-1721 2005-02-27 | FLARE | Cause: the controller responsible for the operation of the Refinery Gas Compression Unit (RGCU) began experiencing problems Followup: No Notes: C-50 was started up to eliminate the flaring and was run on manual. Incident not preventable because normal preventative precautions not used due to concern over clanging noises. | 20.0 pounds |
| 90612 2006-09-12 | A butane storage sphere | Cause: No Information Given - Leak Followup: No Information Provided Notes: The only information provided is that a leak occurred at a butane storage sphere. I assume that butane was the chemical that leaked, but there is no other information regarding other chemicals that may have leake | |
| 87870 2006-05-16 | D-104 Hydrocracker | Cause: the clamp on the Hydrocracker D-104 overhead line was leaking. The pressure of the overhead gas was reduced and several attempts were made to reseal the clamp, including trying several different kinds of sealant. The leak would stop for a short durationand then return Followup: No Notes: As of 7:30am on 5/22/2006 - the date of this letter - the leak was ongoing. In this letter, Exxon claims states that the reportable quantities for hydrogen sulfide and flammable vapor were exceeded only during the first 24 hours of the incident. This incident was not preventable because the clamp was considered to be a permanent repair (installed in Dec. 2005) until the scheduled unit downtime in 2008. Remedial Measures- a larger engineered clamp will be installed over the existing clamp. " | 132.0 pounds |
| 87870 2006-05-16 | D-104 Hydrocracker | Cause: the clamp on the Hydrocracker D-104 overhead line was leaking. The pressure of the overhead gas was reduced and several attempts were made to reseal the clamp, including trying several different kinds of sealant. The leak would stop for a short durationand then return Followup: No Notes: As of 7:30am on 5/22/2006 - the date of this letter - the leak was ongoing. In this letter, Exxon claims states that the reportable quantities for hydrogen sulfide and flammable vapor were exceeded only during the first 24 hours of the incident. This incident was not preventable because the clamp was considered to be a permanent repair (installed in Dec. 2005) until the scheduled unit downtime in 2008. Remedial Measures- a larger engineered clamp will be installed over the existing clamp. " | 204.0 pounds |
| 86548 2006-03-16 | FLARE - Alkylation Feed Preparation Unit | Cause: The Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether Unit was converted to an Alkylation Feed Preparation Unit (AFP). The AFP was beginning its initial start up. As the level in one of the towers increased, steam was added to the reboiler to begin producing overhead product. During this time, the safety valves on the tower began relieving to the flare system, which resulted in the reported flare. During the conversion of the unit the overhead pressure meter was reranged in the field, but was no reranged in the control room. Due to this oversight the operator believed he was at a significantly lower pressure and did not immediately discover that the safety valves on the tower had lifted to the flare system. The calculations automtically completed by the flare system Followup: No Notes: The cause of the accident is listed as preventable in the company's report, but there is no explanation whatsoever as to why it was preventable - that section is blank. The only remedial measure listed is that the pressure meter range was corrected in the control room. The letter to LDEQ states that reportable quantities of nitrogen oxide and butenes were exceeded. | 9,978.0 pounds |
| 85275 2006-01-20 | MTBE Unit Exchanger E-557 | Cause: MTBE Unit Exchanger was discovered to leaking into the condensate system causing vapor to flash off. The failure mechanism causing the leak in the exchanger is listed as unknown. Followup: No Notes: Incidents 06-00380, 06-00401 occurred simultaneously on January 19th and on Jan. 20th 06-00406 occurred, overlapping with the first two. The reportable quanitites for highly reactive volitile organic compounds and flamable vapors were exceeded whenthe emissions from these three events were summed over the first 24 hour period beginning with the initiantion of the rlease from the No. 2 Powerformer Unit. With regard to the 24 hour period beginning with the release at the MTBE Unit, there were nportable quanity exceedances for this period of time. The emissions limit exceeded the reportable quanitity threshold only during the time when all three incidents were taking place simultaneously. The mortar in T-4X will be replaced with a Furan re | |
| 85263 2006-01-19 | No. 2 Powerformer Unit T-4X | Cause: a leak on the shell of their tower (T-4X) is believed to have been caused from the failure of the mortar in the joints of the tile which lines the inside of the tower, which allowed acid to attack the carbon steel shel Followup: No Notes: Incidents 06-00380, 06-00401 occurred simultaneously on January 19th and on Jan. 20th 06-00406 occurred, overlapping with the first two. The reportable quantities for highly reactive volatile organic compounds and flammable vapors were exceeded when the emissions from these three events were summed over the first 24 hour period beginning with the initiation of the release from the No. 2 Powerformer Unit. With regard to the 24 hour period beginning with the release at the MTBE Unit, there wereeportable quantity exceedances for this period of time. The emissions limit exceeded the reportable quantity threshold only during the time when all three incidents were taking place simultaneously. The mortar in T-4X will be replaced with a Furan r | 8.0 pounds |
| 99194 2007-09-04 | FLARE-Flare #5,9,17,23 | Cause: cooling tower pumps shut down due Followup: No Notes: The cooling tower pump was restarted to restore cooling water to the unit. The speed control was repaired after it caused the unexpected shutdown. | 96.0 pounds |
| 97173 2007-06-17 | Leak-tower leak | Cause: Internal and external Followup: Yes Notes: Tower shut down to stop leak. Tower repaired before returned to service | 63.0 pounds |
| 94172 2007-02-23 | Exchanger leak | Cause: underdeposit corrosion Followup: No Notes: Leaking exchangers were removed from service. The metallurgy of the exchangers is being evaluated for upgrading. | 32.0 pounds |
| 109154 2008-09-05 | safety valve releaes safety valve release | Cause: no information given Followup: Yes Notes: Exxon Mobile was authorized by LDEQ to proceed with emission plan for startup. In order for normal operation of incinerators, refinery has to emit gases through flaring, total emissions will be report once after normal operations are attaine | 104.0 pounds |
| 106022 2008-05-16 | Depropanizer feed line | Cause: A leak was discovered on the Depropanizer feed line at the #3 Light Ends Unit. Caused by underdeposit corrosion due to residual acid attack Followup: No Notes: The leak was isolated and the line depressured. | 271.3 pounds |
| 104428 2008-04-02 | Cause: Leak on a small line at the alkylation unit occurred. Followup: No Notes: They were in the process of depressurizing the line and as well as other actions to secure the line. They will need to clamp the line to repair. | ||
| 103091 2008-02-14 | Leak/feed line leak | Cause: Corrosion/corrosion leak occurred through a 3/8 hole on the #2 feed inlet pip Followup: No Notes: The tower that the corroded pipe led to was shut down and filled with water to stop residual hydrocarbon vapors from leaking out of the hole. The hole was plugged.An engineered leak box was installed on the line. | 6,483.0 pounds |
| 102274 2008-01-15 | no information given/leak no informaiton given/leak | Cause: no information given Followup: No Notes: Written notification from Exxon Mobile surrounding the leak that occurred at the facility stating that no reportable quantities had been exceeded. | 79.0 pounds |
| 116327 2009-07-09 | No Information Given | Cause: A Leak occurred on a line in the refinery. Followup: No Notes: RQ potentially exceeded. After De-pressurizing and putting water on it, the situation was under control. LABB only has access to the SPOC verbal report. No information provided about how much material was released. | |
| 113502 2009-03-18 | No Information Given | Cause: Absorber burped over and purged into the incinerator. Followup: No Notes: RQ not exceeded. | |
| 125825 2010-08-21 | no information given | Cause: A Leak at a pipe union caused a release of butane and pentane. Followup: No Notes: No further information given. | |
| 125762 2010-08-19 | Alky line to depropylizer feed | Cause: An Alky line to depropylizer feed leaked. Followup: No Notes: Line blocked & depressurized. This release was BRQ. | |
| 128656 2011-01-18 | Leak in Cooling Towers | Cause: Butane reading in cooling towers due to small leaks. Followup: No Notes: The releases were found during cooling tower sampling using the El Paso testing method. No RQs exceeded. | |
| 140589 2012-06-16 | Butane A-line | Cause: There was a pinhole leak in the butane A-line. Two days later, when the leak had been secured, the line was pressured back up, and another leak was discovered. Followup: No Notes: On 6/14/12, the line was depressurized, and the leak was repaired. On 6/16/12, when the line was pressured back up, another pinhole leak was discovered. This leak was secured after 1h 20m. |
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