A Secure Site for a Safe Resource

LNG has been handled for decades and has an exemplary safety record. In fact, since the international transportation of LNG began in 1964, there have been over 80,000 voyages, covering more than 100 million miles, in which LNG has been safely transported, stored and delivered to terminals the world over, including the U.S., Europe and Asia. There has never been a major shipping incident – in port or on the seas – that has resulted in a loss of containment of the LNG cargo. Over the life of the industry, there have been just eight marine incidents worldwide that resulted in LNG spills. There have been no LNG cargo fires and no crewmen’s lives were lost as a result of those incidents.

LNG is a clear, non-toxic, non-corrosive and odorless liquid that is less dense than water. If LNG were to be exposed to ambient temperatures, as in the rare event of a leak, it would vaporize quickly and warm to the temperature of the environment. At ambient temperature the vapor is 45% lighter than air, rises and quickly dissipates. To mitigate the risk posed by the possible ignition of LNG after it has vaporized back into natural gas (after the unlikely event of an LNG spill), the LNG Clean Energy project is being sited away from populated areas and equipped with modern safety systems.

Security Measures in Place

To ensure maximum security, the perimeter of the LNG Clean Energy site will be fenced and blockades will be present at the road entrance to the facility. Access to the unloading dock and LNG carriers will be tightly controlled. Several state-of-the-art systems, including fiber optic detection systems and security cameras, will be used to control access, monitor activities, and detect potential problems 24 hours a day. Security personnel will be available to respond to potential intrusions, and Gulf LNG Energy will coordinate its own security measures with governmental authorities that have security responsibilities.

Secure Design

In the U.S., LNG facilities are designed in strict accordance with governmental regulations. The first line of containment is a double-walled tank (a tank inside a tank). If for some reason the inner wall of the storage tank fails, the outer wall can fully and safely contain all LNG. Also, a containment barrier/berm is constructed around all storage tanks. The barrier/berm is designed to contain at least as much LNG as can be stored in the tank that it surrounds. Spilled LNG will simply evaporate and dissipate into the atmosphere, leaving no residue. Therefore, there is no environmental cleanup needed for LNG spills.

Safety Facts Regarding LNG

The most popular misconception concerning LNG is that it would likely explode during a catastrophic release. This is untrue. Further, LNG is not stored under pressure so a ruptured LNG tank would not result in an immediate catastrophic release of LNG. Once revaporized, the resulting gas is the equivalent of natural gas. Natural gas is distributed by our domestic natural gas industry, which has an excellent safety record. Natural gas is considered to be a “low reactivity fuel” – one of the reasons it is considered a safe fuel for use in domestic appliances such as ranges, dryers and furnaces.

What About LNG Vapors?

Before a facility is permitted by the regulatory authority, vapor dispersion models are studied to determine the extent that flammable vapors can migrate from a potential release of LNG. These studies will provide information used during the design and operation of the terminal to insure that any potential release of LNG will not pose an unreasonable threat to the safety of persons or property. In the case of this facility, the site will be bordered by open water and an unoccupied U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged material disposal area.

LNG Safety and Security

Is LNG Safe?

Yes. LNG has been safely handled for decades and has an exemplary record. LNG is a clear, non-toxic, non-corrosive and odorless liquid that is less dense than water. If LNG were to be exposed to ambient temperatures, as in the rare event of a leak, it would vaporize quickly and warm to the temperature of the environment. At ambient temperature, the vapor is 45% lighter than air, so it rises and quickly dissipates.

Will LNG explode?

The most popular misconception concerning LNG is that it is stored at high pressure and will explode during a catastrophic release. LNG is stored under very low pressure (less than 2 PSIG), so a ruptured LNG tank would not result in an immediate catastrophic release of pressure or LNG. While stored within the tank, LNG can neither burn nor explode since there is no oxygen or source of ignition within the tank. In the unlikely event that LNG is released from the storage tank, it will immediately vaporize and become natural gas. An explosion of natural gas is possible only if all the following conditions occur at the same time: gas vapors are within the flammability range (requires 5-15% oxygen); gas vapors are in a confined space; and there is a source of ignition.

In the event of an LNG release, how far downwind can the vapor cloud be ignited or adversely affect human respiration?

Every LNG facility has its own unique characteristics. Before a facility is permitted, vapor dispersion models are run to determine the extent that potentially flammable vapors can migrate from a release. Within the area, safety zones are created. In the case of this facility, the site will be bordered by open water and an unoccupied U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged material disposal area.

If LNG were to spill onto water, would it produce something similar to an oil slick?

No. LNG evaporates quickly and as the gas warms up it becomes lighter than air, rises and disperses into the atmosphere, leaving no residue. There is no environmental cleanup needed for LNG spills.

How will the LNG terminal be secured?

The perimeter of the site will be fenced and blockades will be present at the road entrance to the facility. Access to the unloading dock and LNG carriers will be tightly controlled. Several state-of-the-art systems, including fiber optic detection systems and security cameras, will be used to control access, monitor activities, and detect potential problems 24 hours a day. Security personnel will be available to respond to potential intrusions, and Gulf LNG Energy will coordinate its own security measures with governmental authorities that have security responsibilities.

In the event of a spill from an LNG storage tank, how will LNG be contained and disposed of?

In the U.S., LNG facilities are designed in strict accordance with governmental regulations. The first line of containment is a double-walled tank (a tank inside a tank). If for some reason the inner wall of the storage tank fails, the outer wall can fully and safely contain all LNG. Also, a containment barrier/berm is constructed around all storage tanks. The barrier/berm is designed to contain at least as much LNG as can be stored in the tank it surrounds. Spilled LNG will simply evaporate and dissipate into the atmosphere.

How might dredging activities affect local fisheries?

The dredging required for the development of the marine terminal will temporarily affect water quality in the Bayou Casotte Channel. Gulf LNG will implement all mitigation measures identified in federal and state permits to minimize dredging-related impacts to water quality and marine organisms. Localized dredging is not expected to adversely affect local fishery resources.

In conjunction with the creation and maintenance of the Port of Pascagoula, dredging operations have been conducted successfully for many years in the area where the LNG Clean Energy Facility will be located.

Will fish larvae and other marine organisms be sucked in or killed by use of seawater to vaporize the LNG?
The LNG Clean Energy Project will not use seawater to vaporize LNG. LNG will be vaporized utilizing a closed-loop system that does not require circulation of seawater. Therefore, no impacts will occur to larvae or other marine organisms as a result of vaporization.

Will the terminal have visible emissions or large emission stacks?

The only emissions from an LNG facility are the exhaust from the burners used to heat the LNG back into natural gas. Since this fuel requirement is relatively low, and consists of burning natural gas, the emissions are not visible. Further, emission stacks associated with LNG facilities are not as visually noticeable as many other industrial facilities. Stacks are sized to effectively disperse emissions, therefore sizing will not be known until all facility design and operation plans are finalized. Gulf LNG Energy believes that the stack(s) required for this facility will not detract from the current esthetics of the area surrounding the facility, which has long been industrial in character.

In the event of an LNG spill, can groundwater be affected?

No. Upon the unlikely event of an LNG release on land, LNG exposed to even the coldest temperatures experienced in Pascagoula will quickly vaporize into a colorless and odorless vapor. The vaporized LNG will dissipate before it has a chance to penetrate groundwater supplies.