RISK-BASED LNG FACILITY SITING AND SAFETY ANALYSIS IN THE U.S.: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

摘要

United States (U.S.) efforts to implement a risk-based approach for LNG facility siting and site analysis for adoption in the regulations for approval of new and proposed expansions of LNG facilities have lagged efforts implemented in other countries. Since the 1970s, siting and site analysis of off-property hazards has been regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through prescriptive requirements for analysis of hazards of LNG releases, including coverage of thermal radiation associated with LNG pool fires at the proposed site and flammable vapor travel off site in the event of a release of LNG. This paper summarizes and discusses recent developments in risk-based analysis procedures promulgated in the U.S. national consensus standards covering major LNG storage facilities, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 59A, "Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas."1 The discussion includes a comparison to major internationally-recognized, risk-based procedures applicable to LNG facility siting, potential implementation issues raised by NFPA 59A risk-based procedures, and potential regulatory adoption issues within the U.S. regulatory structure.