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ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

Releases of Nitric Oxide

LDEQ Accident Number
Accident Date
Point Source(s) Notes Amount of Release
89339

2006-07-18
flare tip
Cause: Nitric oxide was released out of the flare tip. There was no overpressure or unit upset, according to the SPOC report. Normal ambient temperature increase and increased gas load caused the release.

Followup: No

Notes: In SPOC report on July 18, 2006, refinery claims amount of nitric oxide exceeded reportable quantity. In a refinery letter sent on July 21, 2006, refinery determines that no reportable quantities have been exceeded after further evaluation.
13.9 pounds
87051

2006-04-08
FLARE - C-30 and C-40 compressor
Cause: at the time of this report, the cause of the flaring incident was unknown and was under investigati

Followup: No

Notes: The only information provided is that the preventability of the incident had not been determined and was under investigation. Remedial Measures are listed the same way. The reportable quantities for nitrogen oxide were exceeded.
14.0 pounds
86722

2006-03-24
FLARE - as a result of a leak from the ammonia gas line to the No. 100 Sulfur Plant (SRLA-100)
Cause: the pipe leaked due to new corrosion hole that had developed under the edge of a clamp that was installed in November. The existing clamp was tightened which did not stop the leak so it was replaced with a new clamp which also did not stop the leak. Since the newly installed clamp did not stop the leak, the old clamp was then reinstalled with a new gasket which still did not stop the leak. The feed spheres to the Sour Water Strippers became full which required the start up of the Sour Water Strippers to the flare syste

Followup: No

Notes: The incident was not preventable because, The clamp was installed in Nov. 2005 due to a pinhole leak from condensate corrosion. At that time, the line was x-rayed and no areas of concern were discovered outside the area under the clamp. Therefore, the corrosion hole that led to the release could not have been predicted. Remedial actions- a similar line exists to the SRLA-200 unit. This line will be inspected and repaired while the SRLA 200 unit is down. The letter to LDEQ ss that the reportable quantities for ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen dioxide were exceeded. Note: there is a time discrepancy - the report states that the incident started at 2:30pm on 03/24/2006 but was discov
266.0 pounds
86001

2006-02-22
FLARE
Cause: the 100, 200, 400 Sulfur Trains shut down due to high pressure on the primary burners. The 100 Train started up after 2min., the 200 Train started up after 3min., and the 400 train started up after 10min. During the time the Sulfur Trains were shutdown,the pressure increased on the MEA Regenerators, so clean acid gas was flared for 17min. Equipment failed due to a a failure to operate and maintain that equipment in a manner consistent with good engineering practice.

Followup: No

Notes: This event was not preventable -SEE Follow Up Consent Decree letter dated 04/07/2006 - Had the limit switch for valve 182 not been connected in the manner in which it was to the valve posistioner, then the AG Flaring Incident would not have occurred. The fact that valve 192 lacks valve posistion feedback to the Controller to indicate the actual posisiton of the valve was a signifigant contributing factor in this incident. A second contributing factor was that there as no visual checkitiated by the Controller, on the valve to provide absolute certainty that valve 182 was actually open. This was considered, for purposes of stipulated penealties under the consent decree, equipment failed due to a failure to oper
11.0 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.
247.0 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.
139.0 pounds
107010

2008-07-06
Pulldown line leak/FLARE-Flare 5,17,29
Cause: Leak was discovered on the pulldown line for the Product Separator Drum at the Powerformer Unit. Initial findings indicate that the leak was caused by internal corrosion of the weld in a stagnant area of the line.

Followup: No

Notes: The line could not be isolated from the drum, so the decision was made to shutdown the unit in order to stop the leak. The line was completely depressured. During the process of shutting down the unit, flaring occurred from the #5, 17, and 19 flared. No reportable quantities were exceeded as a result of the flaring. Regular air monitoring was conducted during this event. The spool piece that leaked was replaced with a straight piece of pipe to eliminate the stagnant area in the line. Reportable quantities for benzene and flammable vapors was exceeded.
36.0 pounds
106262

2008-06-07
Atmospheric release/FLARE-Flare 17,19,23

Cause: The C-101 Recycle Compressor on the HCLA unit shut down due to a fault in the transformer that supplies power to the compressor motor. The compressor trip automatically activated the units emergency depressurization procedures, which caused gases in the HCLA reactor system to be vented to the atmosphere via the condensable blow down drum. The transformer failed due to overheating. The air conditioner in the substation was found to have failed causing the temperature in the building to increase and the transformer to overheat. FLaring also occurred.

Followup: Yes

Notes: The unit was depressurized automatically in accordance with the emergency procedures. Temporary ventilation conditioning was installed in the substation to cool the remaining electrical equipment. Total amount of flammable vapor released was 108,206 pounds. Total amount of VOC's released was 93,904 pounds
7.0 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.
11.0 pounds
104962-104935

2008-04-20
leak/FLARE-Flare 5,9,19,20,24
Cause: Equipment failure-Hydrocracker unit down; Pressure Swing Absorber out of service

Followup: No

Notes: Safety valve released itself once the pressure stabilized. Lights end section was depressured to stop H2S leak, which caused many flares to burn. Light ends depressured. Stream was lined up to the tower to stop flarin
68.0 pounds
102960/102918

2008-02-08
FLARE-Flare 5,17,19
Cause: Process Upset-recycle gas compressor shut down due to process upset./Other-high pressure in the refinery gas collection system due too a high volume of vent gas from other refinery units.

Followup: No

Notes: Process upset conditions at the catalytic cracking unit were resolved and recycle gas compressor was restarted to stop flaring. When the high pressure burner line overpressured, efforts were made to reduce the amount of gas sent to HPBL and increase gas amount taken by Enterg
48.0 pounds
102686

2008-01-29
FLARE-Flare 9
Cause: equipment failure

Followup: No

Notes: Written report from Exxon Mobile surrounding the flaring accident stating that the source was found to be several leaking evacuator valves on the flare gas compressor system. Steam was injected into the flare drum, and RGCU gas gointo to the flare drumwas blocked out. The leaking evacuator valves were also replace
17.0 pounds
119501

2009-11-16
flares
Cause: Compressor tripped at RGC unit.

Followup: No

Notes: RQ not exceeded. Will re-start compressor and minimize gas that will be sent to the flare.
137359

2012-02-18
FLARE: Flare #7
Cause: Excessive rainfall caused an electrical ground fault to occur with some of the compressor's control instrumentation causing the three compressors to shut down. excesses gases were released to the flares.

Followup: No

Notes: Air monitoring occurred and eventually two of the three compressors were brought back on-line and flaring ceased. There is no refinery Incident report and no SPOC report attached to this file.
1,404.8 pounds