(17b) The Employment of NFPA 59a in LNG Facility Siting

This paper presents the application of NFPA 59A, National Fire Protection Association publication 59A Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 2006 Edition, in the siting of LNG facility. NFPA 59A is an industry consensus standard that covers general LNG facility considerations. To assist the development of LNG facility plan layouts, a series of studies must be conducted in accordance with NFPA 59A to determine the feasibility of the LNG facility in terms of the surrounding community safety.

According to NFPA 59A, the siting evaluation is conducted by assessing the consequence of LNG spills from the facility, and calculating the hazard zones for LNG fire and flammable vapor dispersion. PHAST, the most popular consequence analysis software in oil and gas industry, is employed in determining the safe distance from the facility to the property line.

This paper also covers the comparison of NFPA 59A with Canadian LNG standard and the Code of Federal Regulation on LNG facility. Recommendations are made on the model selections and parameter determinations in applying NFPA 59A for LNG facility siting.