VAPOR DISPERSION FROM LNG SPILLS--1. SPILLS ON WATER

University Engineers, Inc. has developed methods for predicting the evaporation rate of LNG spills on water, the time required to reach maximum pool diameter at a constant spill rate, and the concentration of methane in the downwind atmosphere. Pool diameter expands until the vaporization rate equals the spill rate. Tests showed the time to reach maximum pool size at spill rates of 10 to 10,000 gpm is less than 1 minute, with maximum pool diameters ranging from 6 to 200 ft. To be flammable in air, vapors from LNG spills should contain 5% methane; thus for sea-level concentrations under stable atmospheric conditions with a 5 mph wind, the flammable region is as close as 75 ft from the spill source at the 10 gpm rate or as far as 800 ft at 10,000 gpm.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Held in New Orleans, La., September 17-21, 1972.
• Corporate Authors:

  ASME Petroleum Mechanical Engineering Conference

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017
• Authors:
  • Welker, J R
• Publication Date: 1972-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 4 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Liquefied natural gas; LNG pipelines; Pipeline safety; Spills (Pollution)
• Old TRIS Terms: Lng spills
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Pipelines; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00056417
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Petroleum Institute
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASME #73-PET-48 Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1974 12:00AM