Abstract This paper discusses safety and risk posed by liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. It specifically focuses on the safety of these facilities in that they are highly visible and make easy targets for terrorist attacks. The paper also discusses the safety standards and technology associated with LNG, particularly following a catastrophic event in 1944 in Cleveland. It describes the environmental effects of a disaster, as well as symptoms of exposure in an LNG accident. The paper concludes with a long-term risk assessment of the future of LNG.
Table of Contents:
The Infrastructure
Risks Associated with Spills
Cold Hazards
Pool Fires
Vapor Clouds
"A Cleaner Alternative"
By-Products of Combustion
Symptoms of Exposure in an LNG Accident
A Matter of Scale and Scope
Long Term Environmental Impact
Disaster Planning and Modeling
Evacuation
Contamination Control
Improving LNG Accident Response
How Real is the Risk?
Potential Scenario from an LNG Explosion in Boston Harbor
The Future of LNG Risk Assessment
From the Paper "Up until this point, only one real world scenario of an LNG accident existed and it was long ago before recent developments in technology and safety protocol. Other assessments, such as those made by FERC and industry professionals are largely theoretical. They leave too many variables to chance. To accurately assess the real dangers of LNG, there is a critical need for credible, scenario based research. This is the next phase in the research cycle concerning the safety of LNG. If we are to remove the issue from the political battleground, we need more research-based evidence. In the case of LNG, valid research can be difficult due to the nature of the material."
