2008 Spring Meeting & 4th Global Congress on Process Safety
(162a) Design of Safe Lng Regasification Terminals
Authors
Assuring the design of safe onshore LNG receiving, storage, and regasification terminals requires careful consideration of numerous site- and facility-specific factors. This paper will present an overview of design strategies to eliminate, mitigate, and control risks.
Examples of site specific factors include the following:
? Facility footprint; equipment spacing and layout
? Existing infrastructure such as pipelines for natural gas and LPG
? Single site vs. Split site terminal
? Site accessibility to external waste heat sources such as power plants, refineries, etc.
? Natural hazards; seismic activity, severe weather or sea states
? Stability of subsoils; settlement during facility life
? Proximity to the public, shipping lanes, and air traffic
? Global and internal security
This paper will focus on the following considerations:
? Effect on rollover potential of feedstock composition and variability
? Identification of design basis LNG spill scenarios, spill collection and disposal
? Methods of BTU control and potential for LPG spills
? Unloading facilities including the design of unloading arms and headers to minimize spill size
? Design of LNG spill containment systems to minimize thermal radiation and flammable gas exclusion zones
? Choice of insulating concrete properties
? Judicious use of secondary and tertiary containment
? Overboard discharge of LNG during a spill event, including RPT overpressures
? Type of piping (for example, above ground or buried, single or vacuum-jacketed, etc.) including upgraded specifications for FRP piping
? High pressure LNG pipe work blow down and isolation
? Type of LNG storage tanks and ancillary equipment
? Effects of LNG high pressure pumping system on safety
? Selection of vaporizers and heating media including waste heat recovery systems
? Vapor fences
? Use of water curtains to disperse cold LNG vapors
? Integrated fire protection and risk management strategies
Where appropriate, advantages of design solutions will be illustrated with consequence modeling.