ENS 53156
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Jan 3, 2018 | |
| Title | Agreement State Report - Nuclear Gauge Involved in a Fire |
| Event Description | The following information was received via E-mail:
The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), reported Friday, 1/5/2018 that a fire occurred on 1/3/2018 at the refinery in the Coker Unit Drum D. The RSO made the Department [Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)] notification when the area cooled and he could assess the situation. The Louisiana State Police were notified on 1/3/2018 at approximately 1530 CST. The Department was notified at approximately 1330 CST on 1/5/2018 when the situation had been assessed after the unit cooled enough for entry. A level/density gauge on Coker Process Drum D was involved in a unit fire. The level/density gauge was an Ohmart-Vega device/source holder, model SHG1-45, S/N 3813CP housing 500 mCi of Cs-137 S/N 26165309. On 1/3/2018, ExxonMobil Refining & Supply had a fire on the Coker unit in Drum D. In the assessment process of the radiation sources from becoming a radiation exposure hazard, it was discovered that the gauge/device shielding was compromised through a melted opening in the lead shielding. ExxonMobil called a service contractor, BBP Sales, to evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action to correct the problem. The service contractor was unable to repair the device/source holder and determined the source holder would have to be replaced. This is not a radiation exposure hazard and does not pose a health and safety situation for the ExxonMobil employees or the general public. The source holder was intact for the most part with the exception of a degraded/melted spot on the shielding. The radiation exposure level from the opening was 30 mR/hr at 1 ft. BBP Sales was notified and called in to make an assessment and recommendation for corrective action of this situation. BBP Sales locked the shutter, secured the device, placed it in a storage container and isolated the storage container. Some additional lead was placed over the opening and the exposure reading was reduced to approximately 4 mR/hr. The storage container was placed behind a radiation labeled barricade. It is considered in storage until it is replaced and the damaged level gauge is shipped for disposal. The 500 mCi Cs-137 source did not appear damaged or compromised. The RSO performed wipes on the device and the wipes were sent to Suntrac Services for analysis. This event is considered closed for reporting requirements by LDEQ. This is not equipment failure. This event is a level/density gauge damaged in a refinery fire. This event is being reported to the NRC as required by Regulatory Requirement 10 CFR 30.50(b)(4) and LAC 33:XV.341.B.4 Louisiana Event Report ID No.: LA-180001; SPOC T182036 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Exxonmobil Refining & Supply Co. Baton Rouge, Louisiana (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | LA-1345-L01, |
| Organization: | Louisiana Radiation Protection Div |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+131.6 h5.483 days <br />0.783 weeks <br />0.18 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Joseph Noble 17:36 Jan 8, 2018 |
| NRC Officer: | Donald Norwood |
| Last Updated: | Jan 8, 2018 |
| 53156 - NRC Website | |
Exxonmobil Refining & Supply Co. with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 531562018-01-03T06:00:0003 January 2018 06:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Agreement State Report - Nuclear Gauge Involved in a Fire 2018-01-03T06:00:00 | |