An analysis of foreign and domestic explosion accidents in LNG tank fields and proposals for preventing measures

作者：Sun Xiaoping^*; Zhu Yuan; Chen Guoming; Chen Xi

来源：Natural Gas Industry, 2013, 33(5): 126-131.

DOI：10.3787/j.issn.1000-0976.2013.05.024

• Accident types
• Controlling measure
• Critical route
• Explosion accidents
• Foreign and domestic
• LNG tanks

LNG industry started late in China and needs more advanced experience from abroad in many aspects, among which safety is the most important one. In view of this, a statistical analysis was made of the explosion accidents occurring in LNG tank fields at home and abroad since 1994. In general, the human factor accounts for 33%, objective reason 53%, and environmental aspect 14%. In combination with the analysis of accident development mechanism and the post-accident consequence, it was concluded that the main explosion types include flash, jet fire, pool fire, vapor cloud explosion, and vapor explosion from the expansion of boiling liquid. On this basis, an accident tree was built for explosions in LNG tank fields, and a thorough discussion was made of three critical routes including ignition source, LNG leakage, and physical explosion due to overpressure in storage tanks. In conclusion, the main cause events are open flames, electrical sparks, material corrosion and aging, junction leakage of attachments, operational errors, untimely maintenance, etc.; according to the analysis results of the accident tree, the positive controlling measures are suggested in the aspects of peripheral location of tank fields, installation of electrical equipment, routine operation and maintenance, and so on, thereby to prevent the explosion accidents in LNG tank fields.

• 出版日期2013
• 单位中国石油大学（华东）