Our multifaceted approach takes into consideration the needs of regulators, engineering contractors and most importantly, you. LNG terminals, send-out facilities and associated pipelines, and power plants around the world rely on our extensive experience to complete QRAs, HAZOP and hazard identification studies, safety integrity level (SIL) reviews, and consequence analysis modeling.
Process simulations are not only a code requirement, but they are also an essential component of a full Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). In this newsletter, Georges Melhem, Ph.D., FAIChE, presents the modeling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pool fires. Would an LNG tanker accident cause the release of all five tanks of LNG content? Common sense, factual data, and scientific evidence challenge a myth.
By implementing structured PHA approaches, LNG operators can enhance safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency, ensuring the long-term integrity of LNG infrastructure. Read this publication for a detailed and concise guide for LNG production, storage, and transport companies to understand and consistently apply process hazard analysis methodologies, tailored to the LNG industry.
The growing public concern over potential terror threats to LNG carriers and the expected increase in LNG shipping traffic led to several recent LNG safety studies. All of these studies addressed the consequences of LNG spills on water; however, none of these recent reports satisfactorily addressed the LNG rapid phase transition phenomenon. Although rapid phase transitions are well researched, the literature published so far does not explicitly quantify the RPT phenomenon. The objective of this paper is to provide a clear understanding of how rapid phase transitions develop and how overpressure is generated.
We present a thermodynamic treatment of rapid phase transitions and discuss the estimation of hazard potential based on the superheat limit. Process Safety Office® SuperChems® software is used to model multi-component LNG spills and to illustrate how LNG composition influences the development of rapid phase transitions and overpressure generation.
A rapid phase transition is the very rapid (near spontaneous) generation of vapor as the cold LNG is vaporized from heat gained from the underlying spill surface or from large volumes of water contacting LNG in a storage tank. Because the vapor is evolved very rapidly, localized overpressure is created. This is also sometimes described as a physical explosion.
Following a release of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a ship or storage tank, a liquid pool forms and spreads on the surrounding spill surface. Rapid phase transitions have been shown to occur during or following an LNG spill. The hazard potential of rapid phase transitions can be severe, but is highly localized within or in the immediate vicinity of the spill area.
An LNG plant in the U.S. was planning the renovation and expansion of its existing facilities, as well as replacing and installing new pipelines for transmission and distribution. Before construction began, the client needed to be sure the potential risks were identified and successfully managed to prevent any release of LNG and damage to their existing equipment and storage tank. Read the case study to learn the value of working with the ioMosaic team.
Sep 4, 2026
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