ExxonMobil reports upset at Louisiana butadiene plant

22 October 2010 16:40  [Source: ICIS news]

(adds comments from ExxonMobil, paragraph 3)

HOUSTON (ICIS)--ExxonMobil reported a production upset at its Baton Rouge butadiene (BD) plant in Louisiana, according to a public filing available on Friday.

The cause of the upset was unknown, ExxonMobil said, adding that it had released BD to the flare stack as a result of the problem.

An ExxonMobil spokesperson said the production upset was a minor issue with no impact on production.

ExxonMobil has 175,000 tonnes/year of BD capacity in Baton Rouge. The company also has a 150,000 tonne/year BD extraction unit in Baytown, Texas.

BD is a key feedstock used for synthetic rubber production. The colourless liquefied gas is highly flammable with a mild gasoline-like odour.

The product is classified as a known human carcinogen, according to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

For more on butadiene, visit ICIS chemical intelligence 
For more on ExxonMobil’s plants, visit ICIS plants and projects
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By: William Lemos
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