LNG - Safety Record
FERC and the US Coast Guard are taking a harder look at LNG terminal and LNG ships during the post September 11th era. This includes working closer with the US Coast Guard and integrating the lessons learned from LNG terminal accidents, no matter where they occur, into its review of proposed and operating LNG terminals. FERC staff visited Skikda, Algeria to learn more about accident at this LNG export terminal.
LNG Ships
 In the past 40 years there have been more than 33,000 LNG ship voyages without a significant accident or cargo security. The US Coast Guard oversees security of LNG cargoes  in US waters.
In addition, Congress passed the US Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which requires all ports to have federally-approved security plans. Detailed security assessments of LNG facilities and vessels are also required.
LNG Terminals
There are approximately 40 LNG import terminals worldwide with many more planned.LNG import terminals exist in Japan, South Korea and Europe, as well as in the United States. The US has LNG four import terminals and one export terminal in Alaska.
The most serious accident of an LNG terminal occurred in Skikda, Algeria. This facility was an LNG export terminal where natural gas was being liquefied and loaded on LNG tankers. Only four accidents have occurred over a 60+ year.
January 19, 2004 - Skikda, Algeria
What happened:
- On January 19, 2004, in Skikda, Algeria, a steam boiler that was part of an LNG liquefaction production plant exploded, triggering a second, more massive vapor-cloud explosion and fire that took eight hours to extinguish. The explosions and fire destroyed a portion of the LNG plant and caused death, injury, and material damage outside the plant's boundaries.
- Sonatrach, the government-owned oil company, owns the Skikda LNG liquefaction plant. The plant had six LNG-producing units called "trains," LNG storage tanks, and administration and operations buildings. The plant uses steam boilers to make high-pressure steam for its steam turbines. These turbines supply power to the plant's refrigerant compressors that are used to liquefy the natural gas.
- The explosion of the gas vapor cloud occurred between two sections of one production train: 1) where natural gas liquids (propane and ethane) are separated from methane, and 2) where methane is liquefied. Fire destroyed three LNG trains, but did not damage any LNG storage tanks or the remaining three trains.
- 27 people killed and 56 wounded.
1979 - Cove Point, Maryland
What happened:
- A natural gas leak caused an explosion killing one plant employee and seriously injuring another and causing about $3 million in damages.
1973 - Staten Island, New York
What happened:
- While repairing the interior of an empty storage tank, a fire started. The resulting increase in pressure inside the tank was so fast that the concrete dome on the tank lifted and then collapsed down inside the tank killing the 37 construction workers inside.
1944 - Cleveland, Ohio
What happened:
- At the Cleveland peak-shaving plant a tank failed and spilled its contents into the street and storm sewer system. The resulting explosion and fire killed 128 people. The tank was built with a steel alloy that had low-nickel content, which made the alloy brittle when exposed to the extreme cold of LNG.
For more detailed information on these accidents please see http://www.energy.ca.gov/lng/safety.html .
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Additional Information
February 15, 2005 - J. Mark Robinson's testimony on LNG issues. View Details
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