This might be a mechanical issue instead of an electrical or chemical one. These cells are typically physically longer than alkaline cells. This could lead to one of at least three problems as they fit tighter in the bay.
#1. The crimped edge of the case of the cell presses against the + terminal enough to short or leak through the wrapper end.
#2. The higher force at the + terminal causes physical damage to internal construction, or activate a pressure safety device inside under the terminal cap.
#3. The cell moves sideways under force, causing some sort of a short between the adjacent cells, depleting one due to case contact.
When the spring is too long on the negative terminal, one could cut down some of the coils to reduce the force. I’ve needed to do this to some of my devices in order to enable fitting Eneloops or Lithium cells.
EDIT: I just measured the resistance along the wrapper edge with sharp gold-plated test leads, tips spaced about 1mm apart. The resistance was 160 megohm.
Under a microscope, it looks like the core of the wrapper is a plastic, and the top and bottom surfaces are metallic coated, then an adhesive. Maybe someone could do a more extensive study of the wrapper materials.
Considering the skin of the wrapper is mildly conductive, the problem may be due to adjacent cell's cases or wrappers in physical contact as they probably alternate directions in the bay.
Also suspect is the region of the wrapper leaving the (-) side of the case up around and onto the (+) terminal. If the mating terminal in the device's battery bay is pressing against the wrapper near the (+) terminal of the battery, it could cause an electrical short/leak because the adhesive is displaced and the wrapper touches both conductors.
Can you inspect your bad cells for evidence of physical contact against the wrapper? Might be worth tracking which physical position the failed cells were place.
I have been 100% pleased with lithium primaries from Energizer in all sorts of devices. I have never had one drop voltage when not in service. I've been using them over 25 years. No explosions, no leaks, nothing bad ever happened at all.
Thanks. That makes sense.
I find it annoying, that the exact dimensions of AA batteries, is either not too well bolted down, or not respected by all parties involved.
There seems to sometimes be similar issues, with 9V PP3 batteries. Because the lithium very long life versions of these, either doesn't always fit, or is a rather tight one.
Even if you are the actual manufacturer of these batteries. It can be very difficult, to find out, what the real causes of these issues, really are.
E.g. The exact batch code(s) are usually not specified in internet claims of faulty batteries. Were they really fakes, abused, faulty equipment, misused, or is it a fake review, sponsored by a competitor etc.
Some people have noted in this thread that the near 0 Volts, of the suspect cells, is rather suspicious (or a fault rather than excessive current drain, from the device). On reflection, I now agree with them. Because (although I usually get involved with other battery types), batteries do seem to nearly always have some kind of terminal voltage, even if it is only a few hundred millivolts, or even slightly negative, in some rare cases (usually when multiple batteries are involved and big current draws from the device, with no automatic switch off, when the voltage is too low).
I assumed, it was because the battery got reverse charged and went internally short-circuit, or something, because of the multiple batteries, and permanent 0.15 milliamp drain, from the LCD clock, in the OP of this thread.
Given that AA rechargeable batteries, can (if you get the right, quality types), keep most of their charge for 5 or even 10 years, shelf-life, and can be readily reused (recharged). Have a good reputation for being leak-proof (assuming you stick to the top/best brand(s) ). Have capacities of 2,000 milliamps (and 2,500 milliamps, but shorter self discharge rate, of something like 3 years, which would be fine, for most applications). I'm not sure why people would be attracted to these one-use lithium batteries.
Unless it was an extremely valuable, vintage device (so near zero leakage risk is wanted), or the higher (perhaps 2,900 milliamps), and extremely long shelf-life (I think it is 20+ years), wanted/needed.
I have noticed, many people, are completely uninterested in recharging batteries, and have got many more important things to worry about in life, so I will try and not preach here (as I probably use more AA Alkaline batteries, than I should/need, save the planet wise, that is).
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