LNG Risk Management

Managing the risks of onshore and offshore LNG facilities via a thorough understanding of the design and key issues associated with liquefied natural gas.

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.

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Our Team

Peter Stickles, P.E.

Principal Consultant

Mr. Stickles is a senior partner at ioMosaic Corporation and has over 50 years of experience in the fields of chemical process safety, petroleum refining and petrochemical technology, and process design having previously worked for Arthur D. Little, Inc., and Stone & Webster Engineering.

Prior to joining ioMosaic Corporation, Mr. Stickles’ roles in the process safety field have included facilitation of process hazard analyses, quantitative risk assessment, fault tree analysis, process safety management training course development, reliability analysis, and management of the process safety management business area for Arthur D. Little, Inc.

Experience Sampling

His knowledge ranges from relief system data gathering, isometric sketching, emergency relief system contingency analysis, and flare system evaluation. He has also analyzed maximizing existing flare and vent header systems utilizing risk-based applications of high integrity pressure protection systems (HIPPS).

Leading a QRA study of an LNG storage and re-vaporization facility located in Canada.

Evaluated the incident frequency of tube failures in black liquor boilers to assess the risk of boiler explosion.

Facilitated numerous process hazard analyses (PHAs) using various hazard identification techniques, including HAZard and OPerability (HAZOP), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and What-if technique.

Team leader for environmental and safety performance review initiated by whistle blowers to the US Congress.

Major contributor on risk assessment for proposed reservoir development EIR in California State waters.

For Santa Barbara county, prepared qualitative risk assessment of the proposed extension of the inspection interval (Continuance of Departure) for the Hermosa-Gaviota Pt. Arguello Natural Gas Pipeline (PANGL), operated by Plains Exploration and Production Co. (PXP).

Major contributor on risk assessment of the Environmental Impact Report Risk of Upset Analysis for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to address oil and gas leasing and development on public lands and federal mineral estate in the Hollister Field Office (HFO).

Lead PHA of GasFrac™ fracturing technology for reservoir stimulation.

Developed and provided expert testimony on behalf of a major energy company before the Australian Royal Commission investigating the Longford Gas Plant explosion.

Prepared defense arguments for contractor M.W. Kellogg when they were implicated in the explosion of the polyethylene plant of Phillips Petroleum in Deer Park, Texas. Kellogg was eventually dropped as a defendant in the case.

Publication Sampling

Stickles, R. P., (co-author), “Portfolio Risk Management for Process Safety”. Proceedings of the 7th Global Congress on Process Safety, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chicago, March 2011.

Stickles, R. P., (co-author), “Conducting Process Hazard Analyses for Dust-Handling Operations”. CEP, February 2009.

Stickles, R. P., (co-author), “Emergency Relief Systems under Fire Exposure”. Chemical Engineering Progress, Vol. 91, No. 1, 1995.

Education

Registered Professional Engineer, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Northeastern University,
M.S., Mechanical Engineering

Northeastern University
B.S., Chemical Engineering

Expertise

Featured Published Work

White Paper Security and Vulnerability Assessment Revealed

White Paper Analyze Safety Integrity Levels (SIL) Using Fault Trees

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Featured Resources

Quantify Non-Equilibrium Flow and Rapid Phase Transitions (RPT)

Although non-equilibrium flow and rapid phase transitions (RPT) are well researched, the literature published so far does not explicitly quantify the RPT phenomenon or provide reliable methods for the calculation of non-equilibrium flow for mixtures. Download this paper for a clear understanding of how non-equilibrium flow and rapid phase transitions develop and how they should be quantified for pure components and mixtures alike.

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White Paper

Managing LNG Risks: Separating Facts from Myths

White Paper

Mechanical Integrity Considerations in LNG Depressurization

White Paper

Understand LNG Fire Hazards

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Featured Case Studies

Process Safety Management Quality Audits

Companies have implemented their process safety management programs to comply with OSHA and EPA requirements, but they continue to have accidents. Process safety management programs can meet the letter of the law, but may not be effective in preventing accidents. Traditional audit programs look at documentation and procedures, but do little to evaluate the program quality or effectiveness.

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Case Study

Construction Hazard Analysis of an LNG Plant

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.

Flare Backpressure Study for an LNG Facility

An LNG manufacturer had four nearly identical trains with three flare header systems. The client decided they wanted to use a new and more stringent criteria than previously performed under a different design criterion. The large scope and tedious nature of the data entry was a challenge since all calculations needed to be checked to determine the maximum pressure each flare pipe line would be exposed to.

Hydrogen Fueling Safety Assessment

The California Energy Commission was directed to assist in the development of clean alternate transportation fuels. As part of this effort, they support the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles operating on hydrogen fuel. In order to be used extensively in the transportation sector, the safety of hydrogen production, storage, and supply needed to be addressed.