(102a) LNG Safety and Security

LNG has been transported and used safely in the U.S. and worldwide for roughly 45 years. The U.S. has three types of LNG facilities: LNG export, LNG import and LNG peaking facilities. The U.S. has the largest number of LNG facilities in the world, scattered throughout the country and located near population centers where natural gas is needed.

The LNG industry has an excellent safety record. This strong safety record is a result of several factors. First, the industry has technically and operationally evolved to ensure safe and secure operations. Technical and operational advances include everything from the engineering that underlies LNG facilities to operational procedures to technical competency of personnel. Second, the physical and chemical properties of LNG are such that risks and hazards are well understood and incorporated into technology and operations. Third the standards, codes and regulations that apply to the LNG industry further ensure safety.

This paper defines and explains how LNG safety and security is achieved, based on our extensive review of technical and operational data.

Conclusions -

Our review of the LNG industry safety and technological record, engineering design and operating systems and the standards and regulations that governing the design, operation and location of LNG facilities indicates that LNG can be safely transported and used in the U.S. and North America so long as safety and security standards and protocols developed by the industry are maintained and implemented with regulatory supervision.

References Cited -

1 U.S. Bureau of Mines, ?Report on the Investigation of the Fire at the Liquefaction, Storage, and Re-gasification Facility of the East Ohio Gas Co., Cleveland, Ohio, October 20, 1944?, February 1946.

2 Lewis, James P.; McClain, Sheila A. Project Technical Liaison Associates, Inc. (PTL): ?LNG Security: Reality and Practical Approaches?, LNG: Economics & Technology Conference, January 2003

3 Young-myung Yang et al., ?Development of the World's Largest Above-Ground Full Containment LNG Storage Tank?. 23rd World Gas Conference, Amsterdam 2006.