2008 Spring Meeting & 4th Global Congress on Process Safety

(162a) Design of Safe Lng Regasification Terminals

Authors

Victor H. Edwards - Presenter, Aker Kvaerner, Inc
William W. Cohea - Presenter, Aker Kvaerner, Inc
Judy Clark Davis - Presenter, Aker Kvaerner, Inc
Vijay Nayyer - Presenter, Aker Kvaerner, Inc
Pat Watts - Presenter, Aker Kvaerner, Inc
W. Phillip Guy - Presenter, AMG Engineering, Inc.
Christopher Richardson-Child - Presenter, Consultant to Exxon Mobil, c/o Aker Kvaerner Contracting
Rebecca Wyman - Presenter, PME, Mustang Engineering


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.