The TOTAL Énergies refinery in Donges detected a crude oil leak yesterday evening at a bend in a 30 cm diameter line leaving from wharf no. 6.
In accordance with the site security plan previously developed in conjunction with State services, Total Energies triggered its Internal Operation Plan (POI) at 11 p.m. All State services (Prefecture, DREAL, DDTM, SDIS, CEDRE, ARS, Gendarmerie) were immediately mobilized, in conjunction with the commune of Donges, to coordinate the response.
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.
No injuries have been reported
The leak materialized as a 2 cm breach on a weld bead creating a trickle of flow which led to an iridescence of an area of approximately 500 m² 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.
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.
Total Énergies, the only refinery located on the Atlantic coast
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 at daybreak to better assess the environmental impacts. The measurements carried out by TOTAL Énergies in the commune of Donges did not detect the presence of volatile organic compounds linked to this event.
State services, in conjunction with TOTAL Énergies and the municipality of Donges, remain mobilized to monitor developments in the situation.
Visual: TOTAL Energies.
