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Louisiana Refinery Accident Database

Formosa Plastics (288), Baton Rouge

LDEQ Accident Report

Pollutants Released

Accident Classified As: Reportable Quantity

Cause of Problem: Process Upset

Facility personnel stated that they are in the process of decompressing the pipe. Water spray used to control the vapors. A release occurred when a 3/4" diameter section of piping failed. The most likely mode of failure at this time is believed to be shear induced by vibration/stress fatigue. Vibrational and/or other stresses at the point of failure, exacerbated by the mass of a recently installed and engineered leak mitigation clamp, are thought to be the precipitating factors in this incident.

Discharge Preventable - No

The line in question was examined/tested and found to be within thickness specifications; no maintenance/mechanical integreity issues were identified. The stresses at the point of failure appear to have been exacerbated by the recent installation of a required engineered clamp, which was designed and installed for its intended application. The clamp was installed in August of this year to encapsulate and mitigate a de-minimis vapor release from a valve located on the 3/4" line, and was to be removed during the next applicable outage.

Notes/Remedial Actions

Actions were taken to identify and isolate the release source and affected equipment. Water spray systems were also activated to suppress, disperse, and control vapors. Actions planned to prevent recurrence include communication of this incident to the third party specialty repair contractor to establish further protocols for use of engineered clamps on future repairs of this type, with an emphasis on minimizing impacts from stress points from this type of configuration.