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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge
Releases of Ethane
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 05-BB009-1844 2005-07-13 | tank732 | Cause: C-830 compressor shut down causing ICN unit to shutdown. F-761 control valve was left on control to allowing the liquid level in the ICN product stabilizer tower to continue to tank732. Excess flammable vapor was released. Followup: No Notes: it was discovered that the F-761 control valve had not been closed, so it was closed once discovered and the release stopped; procedures will be reviewed and appropriate corrective actions will be ma | 1,753.0 pounds |
| 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. | 10.0 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. " | 674.0 pounds |
| 86579 2006-03-18 | East Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E) | Cause: -Exchanger on the East Train Hydrofiner (HHLA-E) was leaking into a cooling tower. The seating surface and gasket on the floating head were upgraded during the turnaround. Operations personnel installed the exchanger correctly . However, when the exchanger was worked offsite, the contracting company installed the wrong bolts in the floating head of the exchanger. The bolts broke due to wet hydrogen sulfide cracking which caused the exchanger to leak. Note: the accident started at 10:00am on 03/17/06 but was not discovered until 1:50pm on 03/18/2006 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. In the report it does state that further investigation of the incident is currently being conducted. Remedial measure are listed as - the exchanger bolts replaced with appropriate material for the predetermined run length. Reportable quantities were exceeded for hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds | 412.0 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. | 7.0 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 | 38.0 pounds |
| 95990 2007-05-08 | FLARE-Flare #5,20 | Cause: Followup: Yes Notes: Attempts were made to restart compressor and without success a back up compressor was started. Feed rates were reduced to stop flaring. | 41.0 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. | 126.0 pounds |
| 93020 2007-01-03 | FLARE-Flare #5,7,17,19 | Cause: OTHER-Electrical failure of Coker units Followup: No Notes: Personnel initiated startup of idle compressor recovering most of coker gas. Alternate electrical coordination settings and power supply designs are being evaluated for this system. | 86.0 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 | 204.0 pounds |
| 105542-105544 2008-05-11 | safety valve release/ FLARE-Flare 17,23 | Cause: process upset/under investigation Followup: Yes Notes: In response to the suspected exchanger tube leak, the unit was shut down per appropriate procedures. Safety valve inlet line was cleaned and replaced. | 1,261.0 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. | 6.0 pounds |
| 112910 2009-02-20 | Bateman Lake Natural Gas header | Cause: Technician working on pressure instrument did not notify unit operating controller. Malfunction caused pressure control valve to open, which caused the pressure in the Bateman Lake Natural Gas header to exceed that of safety vavle set point. Followup: No Notes: A total of 2030 pounds of flammable vapor was release which exceeds RQ. Pressure control valve was taken out of automatic control and placed into manual control. | 63.8 pounds |
| 136303 2012-01-05 | flange on ICN unit | Cause: A contractor detected a hydrogen smell on compressor C-830. A flange on the ICN unit leaked Hydrogen. The leak rate was 100lbs/hr. Followup: No Notes: Unit personnel tightened the flange and the leak was isolated. No RQs were exceeded. 60.7 pounds of hydrogen, 7.9 pounds of methane, 1.4 pounds of ethane, and less than a pound of propane was released. | 1.4 pounds |
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