Quantitative risk assessment of fire & explosion for regasification process of an LNG-FSRU

Abstract

As global energy consumption is continuously on the rise, there is an increasing interest in the design of floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification facilities in order to prepare for additional energy demand. In this study, following a process simulation to find operational conditions, a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) was performed for a regasification process of an LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). The regasification process was designed and simulated considering the required gas processing capability to obtain the thermodynamic states and operation conditions. A QRA was performed with combinations of frequencies and consequences of fire and explosion. The leak frequencies, representative hole sizes, and ignition probabilities for four hole size categories were estimated. Consequence simulation was conducted to assess risk results. The probabilistic safety distance for the flame length was estimated. The final risk consequences were obtained as number of fatalities per year by applying lethality values. The individual risk was found to be in as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) ron compared to acceptance criteria. An f-N curve for fatality showed that the group risk is also in ALARP ron. The method and results presented in this study will help design LNG-FSRUs and other LNG facilities.