LNG Safety
LNG Safety
LNG Safety
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Contents
I.
Introduction............................................................................................... 0
II.
Environment.............................................................................................. 0
A.
B.
C. Wastewater................................................................................................ 2
D. Air Emissions.............................................................................................. 4
E.
Waste Management................................................................................... 6
F.
Noise.......................................................................................................... 6
G. LNG Transport............................................................................................ 6
III.
A.
B.
Roll-over................................................................................................. 9
Confined Spaces................................................................................... 10
1. Introduction
This report provides a summary of Environment, Health and Security issues
associated with LNG facilities.
2. Environment
Potential environmental issues associated with LNG facilities include the following:
LNG storage tanks and components (e.g. pipes, valves, and pumps) should
meet international standards for structural design integrity and operational
performance to avoid catastrophic failures and to prevent fires and explosions
during normal operations and during exposure to natural hazards. Applicable
international standards may include provisions for overfill protection,
secondary containment, metering and flow control, fire protection (including
flame arresting devices), and grounding (to prevent electrostatic charge).
Storage tanks and components (e.g. roofs and seals) should undergo periodic
inspection for corrosion and structural integrity and be subject to regular
maintenance and replacement of equipment (e.g. pipes, seals, connectors, and
valves). A cathodic protection system should be installed to prevent or
minimize corrosion, as necessary;
Loading / unloading activities (e.g. transfer of cargo between LNG carriers and
terminals) should be conducted by properly trained personnel according to preestablished formal procedures to prevent accidental releases and fire
/explosion hazards. Procedures should include all aspects of the delivery or
loading operation from arrival to departure, connection of grounding systems,
verification of proper hose connection and disconnection, adherence to nosmoking and no-naked light policies for personnel and visitors.
Spills
LNG is a cryogenic liquid (162C [259F]) that is not flammable in liquid form.
However, boil-off gas (methane) forms as the LNG warms, and under certain
conditions could result in a vapor cloud if released. Uncontrolled releases of LNG
could lead to jet or pool fires if an ignition source is present, or a methane vapor
cloud which is potentially flammable (flash fire) under unconfined or confined
conditions if an ignition source is present. LNG spilled directly onto a warm surface
(such as water) could result in a sudden phase change known as a Rapid Phase
Transition (RPT).
The recommended measures to prevent and respond to LNG spills include the
following:
Conduct a spill risk assessment for the facilities and related transport / shipping
activities;
Develop a formal spill prevention and control plan that addresses significant
scenarios and magnitude of releases. The plan should be supported by the
necessary resources and training. Spill response equipment should be
conveniently available to address all types of spills, including small spills;
Spill control response plans should be developed in coordination with the
relevant local regulatory agencies;
Facilities should be equipped with a system for the early detection of gas
releases, designed to identify the existence of a gas release and to help
pinpoint its source so that operator-initiated ESDs can be rapidly activated,
thereby minimizing the inventory of gas releases.
An Emergency Shutdown and Detection (ESD/D) system should be available to
initiate automatic transfer shutdown actions in case of a significant LNG leak;
For unloading / loading activities involving marine vessels and terminals,
preparing and implementing spill prevention procedures for tanker loading and
off-loading according to applicable international standards and guidelines
which specifically address advance communications and planning with the
receiving terminal
Ensuring that onshore LNG storage tanks are designed with adequate
secondary containment (e.g., high nickelcontent welded steel inner tank and
reinforced concrete outer tank; single wall tank with an external containment
basin, full containment tank design) in the event of a sudden release;
Facilities should provide grading, drainage, or impoundment for vaporization,
process, or transfer areas able to contain the largest total quantity of LNG or
other flammable liquid that could be released from a single transfer line in 10
minutes;
Material selection for piping and equipment that can be exposed to cryogenic
temperatures should follow international design standards;
In case of a gas release, safe dispersion of the released gas should be allowed,
maximizing ventilation of areas and minimizing the possibility that gas can
accumulate in closed or partially closed spaces. Spilled LNG should be left to
evaporate and evaporation rate should be reduced, if possible, e.g. covering
with expanding foam; and
The facility drainage system should be designed such that accidental releases
of hazardous substances are collected to reduce the fire and explosion risk and
environmental discharge. The LNG spill drainage system (trough and sump
system) design should be optimized to reduce vaporization rates to limit the
overall vapor dispersion area.
3. Wastewater
Cooling Water and Cold Water Streams
The use of water for process cooling at LNG liquefaction facilities and for
revaporization heating at LNG receiving terminals may result in significant water use
and discharge streams. Recommendations to control cooling and cold water use and
discharge streams include the following:
Sewage: Gray and black water from showers, toilets and kitchen facilities
should be treated
Drainage and stormwaters: Separate drainage systems for drainage water from
process areas that could be contaminated with hydrocarbons (closed drains)
and drainage water from non-process areas (open drains) should be available
to the extent practical. All process areas should be bunded to ensure drainage
water flows into the closed drainage system and that uncontrolled surface runoff is avoided. Drainage tanks and slop tanks should be designed with sufficient
capacity for foreseeable operating conditions, and systems to prevent
overfilling should be installed. Drip trays, or other controls, should be used to
collect run-off from equipment that is not contained within a bunded area and
the contents routed to the closed drainage system. Stormwater flow channels
and collection ponds installed as part of the open drainage system should be
fitted with oil / water separators. Separators may include baffle type or
coalescing plate type and should be regularly maintained. Stormwater runoff
should be treated through an oil / water separation system able to achieve an
oil and grease concentration of 10 mg/L
Firewater: Firewater from test releases should be contained and directed to the
facility drainage system or to a storage pond and wastewater treatment, if
contaminated with hydrocarbons.
Wash waters: Equipment and vehicle wash waters should be directed to the
closed drainage system or to the facilitys wastewater treatment system.
General oily water: Oily water from drip trays and liquid slugs from process
equipment and pipelines should be routed to the waste water treatment
system.
Hydrostatic testing water: Hydrostatic testing of LNG equipment (e.g. storage
tanks, facility piping systems, transmission pipeline connections, and other
equipment) involves pressure testing with water during construction /
commissioning to verify their integrity and to detect potential leaks. Chemical
additives may be added to the water to prevent internal corrosion. Pneumatic
testing with dry air or nitrogen may be employed for cryogenic piping and
components. In managing hydrotest waters, the following pollution prevention
and control measures should be considered:
o Reducing the need of chemicals by minimizing the time that test water
remains in the equipment
o Careful selection of chemical additives in terms of concentration, toxicity,
biodegradability, bioavailability, and bioaccumulation potential
o Using the same water for multiple tests
4. Air Emissions
Air emissions (continuous or non-continuous) from LNG facilities include combustion
sources for power and heat generation (e.g. for dehydration and liquefaction
activities at LNG liquefaction terminals, and regasification activities at LNG receiving
terminals), in addition to the use of compressors, pumps, and reciprocating engines
(e.g. boilers, turbines, and other engines).
Emissions resulting from flaring and venting, as well as from fugitive sources, may
result from activities at both LNG liquefaction and regasification terminals. Principal
gases from these sources typically include nitrogen oxides (NOX), carbon monoxide
(CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and, in case of sour gases, sulfur dioxide (SO2). For LNG
plants with important combustion sources, air quality impacts should be estimated
by the use of baseline air quality assessments and atmospheric dispersion models to
establish potential ground level ambient air concentrations during facility design and
operations planning. These studies should ensure that no adverse impacts to human
health and the environment result.
All reasonable attempts should be made to maximize energy efficiency and design
facilities to minimize energy use. The overall objective should be to reduce air
emissions and evaluate cost-effective options for reducing emissions that are
technically feasible.
Significant (>100,000 tons CO2 equivalent per year) greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from all facilities and support activities should be quantified annually as
aggregate emissions in accordance with internationally recognized methodologies
and reporting procedures.
Exhaust Gases
Exhaust gas emissions produced by the combustion of natural gas or liquid
hydrocarbons in turbines, boilers, compressors, pumps and other engines for power
and heat generation, can be the most significant source of air emissions from LNG
facilities.
Air emission specifications should be considered during all equipment selection and
procurement.
At regasification terminals, the selection of Submerged Combustion Vaporizers (SCV),
Open Rack Vaporizers (ORV), Shell and Tube Vaporizers, and Air Vaporizers should be
assessed, taking into consideration baseline environmental conditions and
environmental sensitivities. If other thermal energy is available within a short
distance (e.g. a nearby refinery), waste heat recovery (WHR) / shell and tube
vaporizerscould be considered.
If ORVs are used for LNG vaporization, no air emissions are expected from an LNG
regasification terminal during normal operations, except for fugitive emissions of
methane- rich gas.
Venting and Flaring
Flaring or venting is an important safety measure used at LNG facilities to ensure gas
is safely disposed of in the event of an emergency, power or equipment failure, or
other plant upset condition. Flaring or venting should be used only in emergency or
plant upset conditions. Continuous venting or flaring of boil-off gas under normal
operations is not considered good industry practice and should be avoided.
Boil Off Gas (BOG)
After LNG liquefaction, stored LNG emits methane gas vapor, known as boil off gas
(BOG), due to heat from ambient conditions and tank pumps, in addition to
barometric pressure changes. BOG should be collected using an appropriate vapor
recovery system (e.g. compressor systems). For LNG plants (excluding LNG carrier
loading operations) the vapor should be returned to the process for liquefaction or
used on-site as a fuel; on board LNG carriers BOG should be re-liquefied and returned
to the storage tanks or used as a fuel; for re-gasification facilities (receiving
terminals), the collected vapors should be returned to the process system to be used
as a fuel on-site, compressed and placed into the sales stream/pipeline, or flared.
Fugitive Emissions
Fugitive emissions at LNG facilities may be associated with cold vents, leaking pipes
and tubing, valves, connections, flanges, packings, open-ended lines, pump seals,
compressor seals, pressure relief valves, and general loading and unloading
operations. Methods for controlling and reducing fugitive emissions should be
considered and implemented in the design, operation, and maintenance of facilities.
The selection of appropriate valves, flanges, fittings, seals, and packings should be
based on their capacity to reduce gas leaks and fugitive emissions. Additionally, leak
detection and repair programs should be implemented.
5. Waste Management
Non-hazardous and hazardous wastes routinely generated at LNG facilities include
general office and packaging wastes, waste oils, oil contaminated rags, hydraulic
fluids, used batteries, empty paint cans, waste chemicals and used chemical
containers, used filters, spent sweetening and dehydration media (e.g. molecular
sieves) and oily sludge from oil water separators, spent amine from acid gas removal
units, scrap metals, and medical waste, among others.
Waste materials should be segregated into non-hazardous and hazardous wastes and
considered for re-use / recycling prior to disposal. A waste management plan should
be developed that contains a waste tracking mechanism from the originating location
to the final waste reception location. Storage, handling and disposal of hazardous
and nonhazardous waste should be conducted in a way consistent with good EHS
practice for waste management.
6. Noise
The main noise emission sources in LNG facilities include pumps, compressors,
generators and drivers, compressor suction / discharge, recycle piping, air dryers,
heaters, air coolers at liquefaction facilities, vaporizers used during regasification,
and general loading / unloading operations of LNG carriers / vessels.
Atmospheric conditions that may affect noise levels include humidity, wind direction,
and wind speed. Vegetation, such as trees, and walls can reduce noise levels.
Installation of acoustic insulating barriers can be implemented, where necessary.
7. LNG Transport
Common environmental issues related to vessels and shipping (e.g. hazardous
materials management, wastewater and other effluents, air emissions, and solid
waste generation and management related to LNG tankers / carriers. Emissions from
tugs and LNG vessels, especially where the jetty is within close proximity to the
coast, may represent an important source affecting air quality.
LNG vessel design, construction and operations should comply with international
standards. Specific recommendations to mitigate Rapid Phase Transition (RPT)
include the following:
The pressure rating of the actual LNG cargo tanks should be maximized,
The LNG cargo tanks pressure relief system should actuate as quickly as
possible, in order to relieve the large volumes of vapor that can be generated
by an RPT event.
B. Roll-over
Storage of large quantities of LNG in tanks may lead to a phenomenon known as
roll-over. Roll-over may occur if LNG stratifies into layers of different densities
within the storage tank, resulting in pressures that, in the absence of properly
operating safety-vent valves, could cause structural damage.
Recommended measures to prevent roll over include the following:
Monitor LNG storage tanks for pressure, density, and temperature all along the
liquid column;
Consider installation of a system to recirculate the LNG in within the tank;
Install pressure safety valves for tanks designed to accommodate roll over
conditions;
Install multiple loading points at different tank levels to allow for the
distribution of LNG with different densities within the tank to prevent
stratification.
D. Chemical Hazards
The design of the onshore facilities should reduce exposure of personnel to chemical
substances, fuels, and products containing hazardous substances. Use of substances
and products classified as very toxic, carcinogenic, allergenic, mutagenic,
teratogenic, or strongly corrosive should be identified and substituted by less
hazardous alternatives, wherever possible. For each chemical used, a Material Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS) should be available and readily accessible on the facility.
Facilities should be equipped with a reliable system for gas detection that allows the
source of release to be isolated and the inventory of gas that can be released to be
reduced. Blowdown of pressure equipment should be initiated to reduce system
pressure and consequently reduce the release flow rate. Gas detection devices
should also be used to authorize entry and operations into enclosed spaces.
Liquefaction facilities with gas treatment operations may have the potential for
releases of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Wherever H2S gas may accumulate, the following
measures should be considered:
E. Confined Spaces
Confined space hazards, as in any other industry sector, are potentially fatal to
workers. Confined space entry by workers and the potential for accidents may vary
among LNG terminal facilities depending on design, on-site equipment, and
infrastructure. Confined spaces may include storage tanks, secondary containment
areas, and stormwater / wastewater management infrastructure. Facilities should
develop and implement confined space entry procedures
.