This leak caused an iridescence of around 500m2 in the Loire.
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The TotalEnergies refinery in Donges detected a crude oil leak on the evening of Saturday November 23 at a bend in a 30cm diameter line starting from wharf no. 6. In accordance with the site security plan previously developed in conjunction with State services, TotalEnergies triggered its Internal Operations Plan (POI) at 11 p.m. This Sunday, November 24, a situation plan was communicated by the Prefecture.
A contained iridescence
All State services (Prefecture, DREAL, DDTM, SDIS, CEDRE, ARS, Gendarmerie) were immediately mobilized, in conjunction with the commune of Donges, to coordinate the response to be provided. As soon as the event occurred, the section of the line concerned was isolated. Work is still being carried out to drain this part via water injection. The leak materialized as a 2cm breach on a weld bead creating a trickle of flow which led to an iridescence of an area of approximately 500m2 in the Loire. This surface area could be partly contained by a double containment system via floating booms despite climatic (wind, swell) and natural (ebb tide) conditions which make it difficult to encircle this iridescent zone.
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Developments this Sunday morning
Since 3:45 a.m., no more crude oil has flowed into the Loire thanks to a product collection device at the leak. Interventions are underway to permanently plug the leak. According to initial analyses, the iridescent waters should partly disperse naturally and be carried back to the banks by the action of the wind. New reconnaissance will be carried out this Sunday morning to better assess the environmental impacts. The measurements carried out by TotalEnergies in the commune of Donges did not detect the presence of volatile organic compounds linked to this event. No injuries were reported. State services, in conjunction with TotalEnergies and the municipality of Donges, remain mobilized to monitor developments in the situation.
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