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Visualization of LNG Spill and Dispersion: Safety Assessment

Simon Waldram, Subramanya Nayak, Tomasz Olewski, Omar Basha and Raid Hassiba

Texas A&M University at Qatar

Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of LNG. A single major accident involving loss of containment of LNG could have a devastating impact on the LNG industry as a whole. It is therefore critical for Qatar’s long term financial security that facilities for production, storage, transportation and end use of LNG are designed and operated so that “worst credible maloperations” do not do pose an undue risk to operators, the local community or the environment. International guidance for design and operation of LNG facilities recommends that validated models are used to predict the consequences of potential releases of LNG: at the same time government reports highlight that current knowledge of LNG behavior is inadequate and prioritize specific areas for further research.

Using the supercomputing and visualization facilities at Texas A&M at Qatar, we have developed a 3-D visualization model which accounts for LNG containment, evaporation, dispersion and warming in complex geometries. The model allows it’s user:

  • To visually analyze LNG cloud dispersion in real time within a user defined geometry.
  • To determine whether the LNG cloud can reach potential sources of ignition, whether on land or at sea.
  • To evaluate the effect of different weather conditions (atmospheric stability class and wind velocity profile and direction) on LNG vapor dispersion.
  • To calculate the concentration of LNG clouds beyond the property line.
  • To quantify the effect of different mitigation techniques on containment, mixing with air, warming and dispersion.