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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

Releases of Flammable Gas

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
110960

2008-11-20
NIG
Cause: According to the LDEQ incident report, an opening line and bleeder valve were left open. Flammable gas escaped from the bleeder valve.

Followup: No

Notes: The release of flammable gas was BRQ.
110370

2008-10-26
NIG
Cause: According to the LDEQ incident report, a containment device bolt developed a leak and released a mixture of benzene and flammable gases.

Followup: No

Notes: Release is BRQ.
109228

2008-09-16
PSV
Cause: Pipestill #7 seed valve was closed and caused a process upset. 1600 pounds of flammable gases through the PSV

Followup: No

Notes: Release is BRQ.
106980

2008-07-07

Cause: A heat exchanger was leaking into cooling water. The leak is suspected to be release a volume of gases that exceed the RQ.

Followup: No

Notes: The plan was to isolate the exchanger and stop the leak.
10,000.0 pounds
106937

2008-07-03
piping
Cause: The insulated piping on the unit had a hole in the piping.

Followup: No

Notes: They brought the unit down and stripped the insulation to uncover the leak. Product is a distillate. Amount released is unknown.
105635

2008-05-15

Cause: There was a hole in a pipe that fed a compressor

Followup: No

Notes: It was in the process of getting fixed at time of SPOC report.
1,000.0 pounds
105508

2008-05-12
Fee line
Cause: There was a leaking fee line to a reactor emitting gases to the air.

Followup: No

Notes: At time of SPOC report, unsure of how long it will take to resolve the small leak.
104832

2008-04-17
FLARE

Cause: They are doing a planned power outage at the Methylethylketone (MEK) Unit and sending natural gas to the #5 flare.

Followup: No

Notes: There was potential to have pilot outages. They added natural gas to keep the pilots lit because the ignitors are electric.
104207

2008-03-26

Cause: A low concentration of vapors may be coming off the cooling tower but they are not sure of the source. It is coming from the cooling tower in the light ends unit.

Followup: No

Notes: Not sure if this incident is reportable.
103931

2008-03-14

Cause: A lead line on the analyzer developed a small leak from the threads. It's located on the Light ends unit.

Followup: No

Notes: Amount of chemicals released is unknown.
127398

2009-11-03
No Information Given
Cause: There was a pinhole leak in a pipe releasing benzene, VOC, xylene, and flammable gas.

Followup: No

Notes: The Unit was Shut Down. Below Reportable Quantities
116052

2009-06-27
No Information Given
Cause: Leak occurred in coker from thermowell.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ not exceeded.
114483

2009-04-26
safety valve on coker drum
safety vavle on coker drum
Cause: Safety valve release on coker drum.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ not exceeded. Material rerouted to another drum.
114765

2009-04-11
No Information Given
Cause: Leak occurred, but no information provided regarding the cause.

Followup: No

Notes: Release is BRQ. LABB does not have access to the LDEQ incident report. The SPOC report indicates the release occurred on 05/07/09, but the refinery letter states the incident occurred on 04/11/09.
113795

2009-03-30
No Information Given
Cause: Safety valve lifted on tank. Pressure dropped.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ not exceeded.
113020

2009-02-26
#100 tank
Cause: Pressure venting on tank #100 on vapor recovery system.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ not exceeded.
112835

2009-02-17
Safety Valve
Cause: Safety valve release due to over-pressure.

Followup: No

Notes: Rates cut to relieve pressure. Release is BRQ.
127694

2010-11-13
Tanks 90, 282, 99, 100, 101, and 261
Cause: A compressor solenoid [computer] in the vapor recovery unit(VRU) developed an electrical short, which caused the VRU to shut down. The shut down caused atmosphere vents on Tanks 90, 282, 99, 100, 101, and 261 to open and relieve excess pressure. Released 2% Benzene and flammable gas.

Followup: No

Notes: Electricians repaired the solenoid and returned the VRU to service. They manually isolated natural gas flow from the tanks. Area around the tanks were monitored with gas test machines (readings below detection limit). Operation personnel monitored the area for odor. The RQs for benzene and flammable vapor were exceeded.
2,765.0 pounds
127427

2010-11-04
T-210 Reboiler (Unit#ICN)
Cause: LDEQ states that an odor involving Hydrogen Sulfide and flammable gas was coming from T-210 Reboiler (Unit#ICN)/exchanger. After investigation, it was stated that the leak came from some transient source.

Followup: No

Notes: Exxon states the exchanger was removed, steamed out, inspected and monitored for hydrocarbon leaks. After passing leak tests, the exchanger was returned. No RQs exceeded.
126729

2010-09-28
no information given
Cause: There was a leak of flammable gas, but no further details given.

Followup: No

Notes: Fire squad reported to scene and the unit was shutdown. This release is BRQ.
125438

2010-08-06
Reboiler tube
Cause: There was a reboiler tube leak and flammable gases were released.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. No information given.
121720

2010-02-23
Power Former Unit
Cause: An odor of flammable gas was detected at the power former unit in the T-31 tower.

Followup: No

Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that "due to proactive response steps take to isolate the leak, the release amounts were limited to less than RQ thresholds. Incident categorized as "open" by LDEQ as of June 2011.
120883

2010-01-20
#12 de-propanizer
Cause: Leak on a 3/4" pipeline at the #12 depropanizer. Instrument from feed drum leaking at elbow of line.

Followup: No

Notes: Release is BRQ. Line isolated and secured. LABB only has access to the LDEQ incident report.
150748

2013-08-30
No Information Given
Cause: On August 30, ExxonMobil Refinery was depressurizing some equipment when they found 4 valve caps leaking.

Followup: No

Notes: Due to prompt incident response to mitigate the event duration, no reportable quantities were exceeded. Approximately 17 lbs of flammable vapor were released as a result of the incident.
17.0 pounds