Filing: Emission at ExxonMobil Baytown, TX, Ethylene Plant


   
   SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) - ExxonMobil Corp has notified Texas environmental 
regulators of an emissions event affecting three flare systems at the ethylene 
unit of its 588,000-bpd Baytown, Texas refinery.

   The incident at the 4-million tons ethylene plant began at approximately 
5:12 p.m. ET on February 23 and ended at 12:59 a.m. on February 24, the initial 
report filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on 
Monday (2/24) said.

   The cause was an unplanned shutdown of the Base BOP Cold Ends Process Gas 
Compressor (LC-02), which resulted in flaring across the BOP-X Flare, the 
Primary Flare, and the Secondary Flare.

   The event released significant quantities of multiple air contaminants 
across the three flare systems, including an estimated combined total of 
approximately 1,494 pounds of benzene, 8,844 pounds of ethylene, 1,587 pounds 
of propylene, 717 pounds of 1,3-butadiene, and 13,493 pounds of carbon monoxide 
-- with several compounds exceeding their respective permitted emission limits.

   ExxonMobil stated that operational adjustments were made to reduce rates and 
stabilize operations to minimize emissions.

   The company added that fenceline monitoring conducted as a precautionary 
measure indicated no adverse environmental impact to the site or surrounding 
community.

   The incident is listed as open in the TCEQ database.

   The Baytown refinery is ranked fifth largest in the U.S.




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