LNG Safety and the Importance of Fragment Protection
In today’s rapidly evolving energy industry, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities play a crucial role in the global energy supply. With the rise in LNG plants being built and proposed, addressing LNG safety has become a primary concern. For many years, a focus of permitting and approval has been analyzing and mitigating risks associated with operational hazards including explosions and fires. Among the LNG safety hazards, one that is often overlooked and thus requires particular attention is the risk of projectiles or fragments impacting critical structures, including buildings, tanks and other key assets. These fragments can cause cascading or knock-on effects, posing severe risks to personnel, critical assets and overall operational safety. By designing structures resistant to these hazards, operators can protect against a wide range of potential threats, ensuring long-term safety and operational efficiency.
Adhering to LNG Safety Regulations with Fragmentation Protection
Although regulatory bodies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have not yet mandated specific fragment protection requirements, FERC is increasingly requesting information on fragment-resistant designs as part of LNG safety regulations and overall safety strategies in LNG facilities.
The Importance of Fragment Protection for LNG Plant Safety
In the LNG industry, the fragmentation hazard from equipment failures, explosions or other hazardous events can cause significant damage to critical structures like storage tanks, pipelines, and control rooms. Beyond immediate impacts, these fragments may trigger cascading incidents, posing serious risks to both personnel and operational safety.
Recent incidents have highlighted the importance of addressing projectile hazards in LNG facilities. In 2014, an explosion occurred at the Williams LNG facility in Plymouth, Washington, where a pressure vessel failure caused fragments to travel long distances, damaging buildings and injuring five people. The explosion also caused damage to adjacent railroad tracks, underscoring the potential for projectiles to extend the impact of hazardous events beyond the immediate facility.
Similarly, in August 1985, at an LNG peak shaving facility in Pinson, Alabama, the “patch plate” welds on a small aluminum vessel failed while LNG was being drained from the liquefaction cold box. The patch plate was ejected into a nearby building that housed the control room, boiler room and offices. The explosion blew inward the windows of the control room and natural gas from the failed vessel entered the building and ignited. This incident resulted in injuries to six employees and further demonstrates the severe consequences of projectile hazards in LNG facilities.
These U.S. based LNG specific examples emphasize the need for robust fragment protection in these facilities to safeguard both personnel and critical assets from cascading effects that can result from projectile impacts. Expanding our list of examples to other geographies or energy production industries would highlight many other examples of cascading events or near misses resulting from fragmentation projectiles.
Sources of Projectiles and Fragmentation Hazards in LNG Facilities
Understanding the sources of projectiles in LNG facilities is essential for mitigating the risks they pose. These projectiles can come from various internal, external and accidental sources, all of which have the potential to cause significant damage to infrastructure and disrupt operations.
- Internal Sources
One of the primary internal sources of projectiles in LNG facilities is equipment failure. Pressure vessels, piping systems and storage tanks can rupture due to overpressure or material fatigue. When these components fail, they can release fragments with significant force, capable of penetrating nearby structures or equipment. Additionally, explosions within process units can produce shrapnel that may strike critical areas, such as control rooms or other buildings. - External Sources
LNG facilities must also account for external projectile hazards. Natural disasters, such as high winds from hurricanes or tornadoes, can propel debris into vulnerable areas of the facility. Beyond natural threats, external sources also include potential man-made dangers, such as terrorist attacks or vandalism, which could lead to the deliberate targeting of critical structures, sending fragments or projectiles throughout the facility. - Accidental Events
Accidental events, such as human error or unexpected equipment malfunctions, can result in projectiles. For example, during maintenance or testing procedures, equipment may fail or be mishandled, leading to explosions or mechanical ruptures that generate fragments. Similarly, mishaps during LNG loading and unloading operations can cause catastrophic events with projectiles posing serious risks to personnel and nearby assets.
Protecting Against Projectile Hazards
With the risks posed by projectiles in LNG facilities, it’s essential to rely on structures that provide robust fragmentation protection. Engineered by world leading experts in hazard protection, FORTRESS Protective Building’s 6-inch or 8-inch reinforced precast concrete modular, structures s are engineered with significant strength and mass to withstand fragment impacts, making them ideal for safeguarding LNG facilities.
FORTRESS provides more than just blast resistance; it offers multi-hazard protection, delivering comprehensive defense against projectiles, blasts, fire, toxic gases and extreme weather. This ensures that even in the event of an explosion or external impact, your facility remains secure and operational.
Beyond Compliance: Comprehensive Protection for LNG Facilities
While meeting FERC-requested industry standards is important, FORTRESS Protective Buildings offers a level of protection that sets a new baseline for industry best practice. FORTRESS takes a more proactive approach by addressing the full spectrum of potential hazards.
With FORTRESS, LNG operators can protect personnel and assets from a variety of hazards while ensuring that the buildings they rely on remain functional and secure, even under extreme conditions. By exceeding compliance standards, FORTRESS empowers LNG facilities to achieve long-term resilience and operational security.
Conclusion
In the LNG industry, ensuring the safety of personnel and critical assets is a complex challenge, particularly with the risks posed by projectiles. Incidents highlight the devastating effects of fragment impacts, underscoring the need for robust, multi-hazard-resistant structures. By taking a proactive approach to safety, LNG operators can mitigate the dangers of projectiles and cascading hazards, protecting both their people and infrastructure.
FORTRESS Protective Buildings offers comprehensive solutions that go beyond compliance and set new industry best practices. With proven protection against fragments, blasts, fire, toxic gases and extreme weather, FORTRESS ensures that your facility is not only compliant with regulatory requests but also prepared for the unexpected.
Ready to protect your LNG facility from projectile hazards?
Our experts at FORTRESS are ready to help you assess your facility’s needs and provide the most appropriate building solutions for maximum protection. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and ensure the safety of your operations.
