Dates: Oct 1, 2026
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On June 8, 2022, a 450-foot-high fireball erupted at an LNG facility on the Gulf Coast in South Texas, leading to the full shutdown of the facility.
The loss of containment and subsequent explosion at the Freeport LNG facility demonstrated the severe consequences of thermal expansion and inadequate overpressure protection within cryogenic LNG transfer piping. When liquid-full cryogenic lines become hydraulically isolated without sufficient pressure relief pathways, rapid ambient heat gain causes rapid liquid expansion and destructive overpressure, resulting in line rupture, boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions (BLEVEs), and subsequent pool fires.
In this newsletter, Georges Melhem, Ph.D., FAIChE, and Henry Ozog examine the complexities surrounding LNG thermal radiation from vapor cloud fires (also referred to as flash fires) and pool fires.
Topics include:
The authors recommend against confusing NFPA-59 thermal radiation criteria with risk acceptability criteria or considering them as such. Hazards are just one aspect of risk. In addition to the probability of the occurrence of the hazard itself, operational, economic, social, political, and environmental factors are all important aspects of risk management.
Have a great and safe day.