ExxonMobile: “Irregularity” Causes Strange Smell

Dauphin Island Exxon At least two people reported getting sick from a strange smell that hovered over Dauphin Island. We now know the cause.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Tue, September 04, 2007 - 4:20 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, September 04, 2007 - 4:44 pm CST

A strange smell hovered over Dauphin Island Tuesday morning, causing at least two people to get sick.
Dauphin Island Police started receiving calls around nine o'clock. Soon after, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management was called in to investigate.
News Five has learned the smell was coming from an ExxonMobil gas platform about 1 1/2 miles off shore. Exxon officials say a production "irregularity" forced them to vent hydrogen sulfide for eight to ten minutes.
"There's nothing to be cleaned up," said Paul Dieffenthaller, Operations Superintendent of Exxon's Mobile Bay Operations. "There was a short emission of the gas. It's been isolated and everything is under control," said Dieffenthaller.
The smell was first reported in the East End by workers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The lab's director says he considered evacuating employees if the odor didn't go away.
"I closed the door immediately when I smelled it the first time," said Dr. George Crozier. "Real high levels will kill you. This was just enough that it's nauseating."
The two people who reported getting sick were members of the lab's house keeping staff. Their supervisor said they had headaches and were vomiting.
People fishing on a nearby pier say the smell was intense.
"If it got any strong we were gonna pass out," said Alex Campbell, who was fishing with his wife. "This is the first time something like that ever happened."
ExxonMobil officials say the problem is now under control, and they do not expect the odor to return. Dieffenthaller says the "irregularity" did not involve a leak or a spill.

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SeaLab1 Says:

Wed, Sep 05, 2007 at 11:07 am

I must say that the situation yesterday was very confusing, but the confusion was not unexpected.

I have yet to be informed, whether by the DISL, City of Dauphin Island, or any oil company, of an emergency plan in the case of a sour gas release. I’ve heard there are warning sirens, but I’ve never heard them tested.

I know that the risk is very low that a gas release will be of the magnitude to cause fatalities, but that doesn’t mean there should be no serious plan of action. It reminds me of the sluggish response to Katrina in New Orleans, albeit on a much smaller scale.