User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

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In its liquid state, LNG is neither flammable or explosive.<ref name=CalifEnergyCommission/><ref>[http://www.ferc.gov/o12faqpro/default.asp?Action=Cat&ID=26 Frequently Asked Questions:  LNG]] From the website of the [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]]</ref>.  For LNG to burn, it must first vaporize, then mix with air in the proper proportions (the [[Flammability limit|flammable range]] is 5% to 15%), and then be ignited. In the case of a leak, LNG vaporizes rapidly, turning into almost pure gaseous methane, and mixes with air.  If the mixture is within the flammable range, there is a risk of ignition which would create [[fire]] and [[thermal radiation]] hazards.
In its liquid state, LNG is neither flammable or explosive.<ref name=CalifEnergyCommission/><ref>[http://www.ferc.gov/o12faqpro/default.asp?Action=Cat&ID=26 Frequently Asked Questions:  LNG]] From the website of the [[Federal Energy Regulatory Commission]]</ref> For LNG to burn, it must first vaporize, then mix with air in the proper proportions (the [[Flammability limit|flammable range]] is 5 to 15 volume percent <ref>'''Note:''' If there is less than 5 volume % or more than 15 volume % of natural gas vapor  in the air, the gas will not burn.</ref>), and then be ignited. In the case of a leak, LNG vaporizes rapidly, turning into almost pure gaseous methane, and mixes with air.  If the mixture is within the flammable range, there is a risk of ignition which would create [[fire]] and [[thermal radiation]] hazards.


LNG tankers have sailed over 100 million miles without a shipboard death or even a major accident.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18556688/page/2/ MSN.com], MSNBC U.S. Thirst for Natural Gas Grows, AP</ref>
LNG tankers have sailed over 100 million miles without a shipboard death or even a major accident.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18556688/page/2/ MSN.com], MSNBC U.S. Thirst for Natural Gas Grows, AP</ref>

Revision as of 15:30, 27 February 2011

In its liquid state, LNG is neither flammable or explosive.[1][2] For LNG to burn, it must first vaporize, then mix with air in the proper proportions (the flammable range is 5 to 15 volume percent [3]), and then be ignited. In the case of a leak, LNG vaporizes rapidly, turning into almost pure gaseous methane, and mixes with air. If the mixture is within the flammable range, there is a risk of ignition which would create fire and thermal radiation hazards.

LNG tankers have sailed over 100 million miles without a shipboard death or even a major accident.[4]

Some on-site accidents involving or related to LNG are listed below:

  • October 1944: The East Ohio Natural Gas Company experienced a failure of an LNG tank in Cleveland, Ohio.[5] 128 people perished in the explosion and fire. The tank did not have a dike retaining wall, and it was made during World War II, when metal rationing was very strict. The steel of the tank was made with an extremely low amount of nickel, which meant the tank was brittle when exposed to the extreme cold of LNG. The tank ruptured, spilling LNG into the city sewer system. The LNG vaporized and turned into gas, which exploded and burned.
  • October 1979: Lusby, Maryland, at the Cove Point LNG facility a pump seal failed, releasing gas vapors (not LNG), which entered and settled in an electrical conduit.[5] A worker switched off a circuit breaker, igniting the gas vapors, killing a worker, severely injuring another and causing heavy damage to the building. National fire codes were changed as a result of the accident.
  • January 2004: Skikda, Algeria. Explosion at Sonatrach LNG liquefaction facility.[5] 27 killed, 56 injured, three LNG trains destroyed, 2004 production was down 76% for the year. A steam boiler that was part of a liquefaction train exploded triggering a massive hydrocarbon gas explosion. The explosion occurred where propane and ethane refrigeration storage were located.


  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CalifEnergyCommission
  2. ↑ Frequently Asked Questions: LNG] From the website of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  3. ↑ Note: If there is less than 5 volume % or more than 15 volume % of natural gas vapor in the air, the gas will not burn.
  4. ↑ MSN.com, MSNBC U.S. Thirst for Natural Gas Grows, AP
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 CH-IV (December 2006). Safe History of International LNG Operations.
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