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ExxonMobil Chemical Plant (286), Baton Rouge
Releases of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
| LDEQ Accident Number Accident Date |
Point Source(s) | Notes | Amount of Release |
| 77893 2005-03-30 | steam trap | Cause: ExxonMobil had a steam trap on a line that goes into a furnace. Gas oil from the furnace backed into the line and went into the trap. The gas oil, which contained benzene, then went into ExxonMobil. Unknown at this time what caused the material to back through. Steam flow may have been cut off. Followup: Notes: Amount of benzene released is over 10 pounds. Exact amount released is unknown. | 2.0 pounds |
| 110384 2008-10-26 | Ethylene Purification Unit | Cause: Followup: No Notes: Exxon believes that RQs were exceeded for all products released. Due to equipment failure, there was an unplanned shutdown of the Ethylene purificaInitial report says that they may exceed for RQs for Ethylene, propylene, nitrogen oxide, and opacity. Exxon's report was received on 11/5/08, and it said that no RQ exceedences occurred. The activity associated with this is covered under the Sp. Condition 2 of the operating Titile V permit for the Main train unit. | |
| 109573 2008-09-25 | Tanks #957, 991, 791, 792 | Cause: Leaking emergency hatch on tank #791, 792, 957, 991. Followup: No Notes: Leaking emergency hatch on tanks 791, 792, 957, and 991. Leak rate was approximately 100 PPH per tank. They were trying to get them fixed. A copy of the written report dated 3/17/09 was faxed to LDEQ. Report said no RQs were exceeded during this release. | |
| 107433 2008-07-22 | H furnace | Cause: Three events occurred within 24 hours of one another at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Chemical Plant. Two are reported in this report (LDEQ #107433), the other is reported separately (LDEQ #107421). In this incident (107433), a furnace tube leaked into convection section of H-furnace and caught fire. The tube leak occurred as a result of the incident described in report #107421.
At approximately 5:56 PM on July 21, 2008, the charge gas compressor at the Olefins unit shut down when several processing cards in the gas turbine control system failed. When the compressor shut down, four furnaces automatically shut down and the gas in the furnaces was evacuated to the flare system. One of the remaining three furnaces was subsequently shut down while the remaining two furnaces continued to operated at 50% rates in order to maintain stable unit operations, which resulted in additional flaring for the duration of the event. The high rate of gas to the flare system resulted in the #25 flare smoking for 2 hours and 17 minutes.
When the Olefins unit shut down, steam was introduced into the furnaces to displace the hydrocarbon feed to reduce flaring emissions. At 12:20 PM on July 22, 2008, while the H furnace was in the process of starting up, a leak was discovered in the convection section of the furnace. To stop the leak, water was introduced into the leaking pass of the furnace to displace the hydrocarbon feed. It is believed that the leak developed when steam was introduced into the furnace.
Tube leaked into convection section of H-furnace and caught fire. Followup: Yes Notes: This incident is the result of the incident #107421 (see comments under that incident). Immediately after the incident began, five of the seven furnaces at the Olefins unit were shut down. Excess gas was sent to flare system. Water was introduced into the leaking furnace pass to displace the feed and prevent uncombusted hydrocarbons from leaking into the atmosphere. Concerning subsequent preventative actions, the failed processing cards were replaced. The H furnace was taken out of service to be inspected for leak location and repairs will be completed as necessary. Used water in the tube to eliminate the burning material. Flammable gass consisted of mainly Butane. | 0.3 |
| 105242 2008-04-30 | de-coke drum | Cause: They are investigating the root cause of the incident. A furnace at SACC unit was being returned to service. Hydrocarbon gases got into the de-coke drum and vented to the atmosphere. Followup: No Notes: No additional information given. | |
| 115611 2009-06-12 | pipe | Cause: Pinhole leak in a pipe. Followup: No Notes: There was a pinhole leak in a pipe. They were working to repair it. Said they would call with an update. | 1.0 pounds |
| 115101 2009-05-20 | Furnace A Furance A | Cause: Cracking furnace A was put back into service when tube leaks in the convection section occurred and smoke evolved. Followup: No Notes: The products probably exceeded reportable quantities. They were putting "A" furnace in service and experienced convection section tube leaks. They have taken the feed out of the furnace and put steam back in. They eliminated any fuel. They said they would update with more information. No final quantities of release. | 1.0 pounds |
| 115101 2009-05-20 | Furnace A Furance A | Cause: Cracking furnace A was put back into service when tube leaks in the convection section occurred and smoke evolved. Followup: No Notes: The products probably exceeded reportable quantities. They were putting "A" furnace in service and experienced convection section tube leaks. They have taken the feed out of the furnace and put steam back in. They eliminated any fuel. They said they would update with more information. No final quantities of release. | |
| 114864 2009-05-12 | Process gas oil line | Cause: Process gas oil spill occurred when a line was being steamed out. Steam was lined up to the process gas oil line when a gauge glass failed. Followup: No Notes: The gage glass failure provided an opening of about 3/4" through which 4188 lbs oil was released to soil.This stream contains approximately 0.28% polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon. The reportable quantities were exceeded for oil to soil and for polynuclear aromatic hydroarbon. The failed gauge glass was isolated to stop the leak. An investigation is being conducted to determine the failure mechanism of the sight glass and appropriate follow up actions to prevent recurrence. | 12.0 pounds |
| 138535 2012-03-31 | No information given. | Cause: Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were initially reported by the facility to have exceeded one pound from a pine hole leak on a bleeder valve. Later it was determined that less than one pound of PAHs was released. Followup: No Notes: No reportable quantities were exceeded. No additional information given. The leak was blocked off and the chemicals were said to be transferred to an empty drum. Less than one pound of PAH were released as a result of this event. | 1.0 pounds |
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