EMEA News
DNV GL to Study LNG Bunkering Risks
DNV GL says it will run a Joint Industry Project (JIP) studying the potential consequences of an accidental release of liquefied natural gas (LNG) during bunkering operations.
Working with exploration and production firms, other energy companies, and LNG market stakeholders, the class society will conduct experiments at its Spadeadam Test Centre in the UK, simulating possible failure scenarios at small-scale LNG bunkering and filling stations.
"The modelling community in Europe and risk assessment experts are uncertain about the capabilities of hazard tools in predicting LNG behaviour in the event of an accidental release of liquefied natural gas," said Project Manager Mohammad Ahmad.
"This will generate valuable data to create well verified and approved models which accurately predict the behaviour of LNG in any type of system failure."
Results from the JIP will contribute to the development of safety standards and guidelines for small-scale LNG bunkering and filling stations, Ahmad said.
Tests will look at LNG discharge, vaporization, dispersion, and flammability in the case of a transfer hose break or the rupture of a storage tank and provide data needed for quantitative risk assessment.
The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), which is developing guidelines for the safe use of LNG bunkers, recently said that an LNG leak in Norway earlier this year demonstrated the "urgent need" for unified policy on the subject.
