STUDY FINDS NO DANGER OF LNG EXPLODING IF SPILLED ON WATER

A study by the Shell Pipeline Corp. has determined that a noncombustible "explosion" phenomenen, which occurs when weathered minus 258 degrees F LNG is superheated rapidly by contact with warm water, is possible only under highly unusual conditions where most of the lighter gas in the LNG composition has boiled off. It was also determined that such an explosion would release only a small amount of energy which could do only neglible damage. The report says that vapor explosions will not occur if pure liquified gases are spilled on ambient temperature water, when the LNG contains more than 40 percent methane, or with a propane to ethane ratio of 1 to 3 or greater. Because LNG normally contains 80-98 percent methane and because tanker boil-ranges between 0.2-0.3 percent/day, the amount of boil-off needed to reach an amount of methane less than 40 percent is virtually impossible.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00301388
• Corporate Authors:

  Petroleum Publishing Company

  211 South Cheyenne, P.O. Box 1260
  Tulsa, OK  United States  75221
• Publication Date: 1972-2-28

Media Info

• Pagination: 24 p.
• Serial:
  • Oil and Gas Journal
  • Volume: 70
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: PennWell Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0030-1388

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Explosions; Liquefied natural gas; Marine safety; Spills (Pollution); Tankers
• Old TRIS Terms: Explosion prevention; Lng spills; Tanker safety
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00032681
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: United States Merchant Marine Academy
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 21 1972 12:00AM