LA Bucket Brigade : Refinery Accident Database

About the Database

ExxonMobil Refinery (2638), Baton Rouge

Releases of Water

LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date	Point Source(s)	Notes	Amount of Release
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. "	21.0 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	80.0 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	3,493.0 pounds
85270 2006-01-19	#2 Light Ends Unit (E-568)	Cause: #2 Light Ends Unit experinenced a leak from their rebolier exchanger. 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
97336 2007-06-22	Leak-Idle stream line	Cause: Internal acid corrosion Followup: Yes Notes: Under Investigation- If investigation shows different causal factor, a follow up will be given. The leaking portion of the line was clamped to stop releas	4,535.0 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	413.0 pounds
No LDEQ Reported 2011-06-28	Steam Pipe	Cause: Upon discovery it was believed release was coming from piping containing hydrocarbon, however pipe ended up being a steam line and steam was the material release. Followup: No Notes: BRQ. Steam was the only material released. Refinery letter only. No LDEQ report.
160387 2014-12-03	Cooling tower	Cause: Exxonmobil had a cooling tower leak in the parking lot that is used for air conditioning. Water leaked onto Scenic Highway. Exxon reported that no chemicals or hydrocarbons were spilled. Followup: No Notes: At time of report to Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Exxon was working to isolate the leak.