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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge
Releases of Isobutane
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 05-BB009-1893 2005-11-13 | No3 Depropanizer condensor | Cause: leak in the No3 depropanizer condensor due to corrosion Followup: No Notes: Exchanger was taken out of service on 11/13 at 9:35am; the inspection department plans to re-inspect the overhead piping system to determine if other corrosion issues exist and to repair the tube bundle that was leaking; this was not preventable becausepiping inspections were performed according to API code and the inspection did not indicate problems with the overhead system integrity | 49,847.0 pounds |
| 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 | 107.0 pounds |
| 05-BB009-1815 2005-07-08 | alkylation unit | Cause: Followup: No Notes: water was sprayed on the vapor cloud to mitigate hazards from the release. Upstream and downstream block valves had to be closed to stop the leak; this was not preventable because the gasket failed- it was an appropriate gasket for the service | 2,650.0 pounds |
| 109406 2008-09-22 | alkylation reactor piping | Cause: According to the LDEQ incident report, a pinhole leak in alkylation reactor piping released isobutane. Followup: No Notes: The line was depressurized in order to install a clamp on the line. The release is BRQ. | |
| 107062 2008-07-09 | Cause: A hole developed underneath the insulation in piping which was cuasd by a leak. Followup: No Notes: The pipe has been blocked off and is being depressured. | ||
| 105920 2008-05-24 | Cause: A pin hole leak develeped on a thermal well. Followup: No Notes: The plan is to clamp the line or put a leak box around it. | ||
| 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. | 2,034.7 pounds |
| 105246 2008-04-30 | piping | Cause: There was a hole in some piping. Followup: No Notes: Isobutane is being released from that hole. ExxonMobil planned to either plug the hole or clamp it. Release of isobutane occurred at 64 pounds per hour. | 64.0 pounds |
| 112756 2009-02-14 | pipe to depropanizer tower on V-line | Cause: According to the SPOC verbal report, a piping leak on the depropanizer tower on V-line caused a release. Followup: No Notes: Blocked line out to secure. Release is BRQ. | |
| 112696 2009-02-11 | alky unit | Cause: According to the SPOC verbal report, gas leaked in the Alky unit from a valve packing. Followup: No Notes: SPOC report indicates that as a result of this ongoing incident, an estimated 1,000 pounds/day of isobutane is being released. However the refinery letter reports that no RQs were exceeded. No information provided regarding when the incident was secured. | |
| 126270 2010-09-10 | flare | Cause: The Alky Unit was shut down, and while preparing equipment, isobutane released to flare system. Followup: No Notes: Release was Below Reportable Quantities [BRQ]. | |
| 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. | |
| 131902 2011-06-21 | Bleeder pump P-105 and exchanger E-700F | Cause: On June 21st, 2011, at approximately 6:34 am, the Baton Rouge Refinery experienced a release.
Operations personnel at the Alky unit discovered a bleeder on pump P-105 suction line releasing caustic, propane, and isobutane. Caustic is used throughout the refinery to remove sulfur compounds from the hydrocarbon streams, and a pressure gauge located on the suction line at this bleeder. The nipple connecting the pressure gauge to the suction line had worn threads, allowing the gauge to become disconnected from the piping system. All caustic was contained on concrete and did not reach the environment. Approximately 1,923 pounds of vapor were released.
Additionally, during the same twenty four period, the RHLA-1 unit experienced a release from the channel box of the exchanger E-700F. Emissions from this release are currently estimated to be 704 pounds per 24 hours. Development of a plan to repair this release is underway. Followup: No Notes: To end the P-105 release, the bleeder was closed and the pump suction line isolated. To prevent recurrence, the bleeder will be repaired before being returned to service. Additionally, bleeders in similar service will be evaluated for similar leak potential by x-ray inspection. | |
| 128412 2011-01-03 | No Information Given | Cause: LDEQ states that the leak occurred in a unit that caused an isobutane leak. Followup: No Notes: BRQ. Refinery letter states that due to prompt incident response, no reportable quantities were exceeded. The unit with the leak was shutdown. | 290.0 pounds |
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