Steve Quayle News Alerts

Dec. 21, 2004
By DAVID IVANOVICH
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

THE LNG THREAT

• Four ports: Tankers, each of which carries up to 30 million gallons of LNG, arrive every few days at four U.S. terminals: Everett, Mass.; Cove Point, Md.; Elba Island, Ga., and Lake Charles, La.

• Safe as a liquid: LNG cannot explode and is not flammable in its minus-260 degrees liquid state. A missile or explosive would allow the liquid to escape, transforming it into a gas that probably would ignite in a massive fire.

• Weapons obtainable: Terrorists, using readily available weapons and technology, could blast a 10-foot hole into the side of an LNG tanker, the Sandia report says.

• More terminals: In addition to the four existing terminals, at least eight are planned for Texas, and some three dozen others around the U.S.

WASHINGTON - A terrorist attack on a tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas could cause massive damage a third of a mile away and could send a vapor cloud billowing more than 1.5 miles, government scientists say.

With the the nation clamoring for more natural gas, policy-makers are trying to figure out how to safely import large quantities of liquefied natural gas or LNG.

The issue could have real consequences for Houston, since energy companies are eyeing several sites on the Texas Gulf Coast as possible locations for LNG terminals.

Scientists at the Sandia National Laboratories, in a report to be released today, say current regulations are adequate to avoid accidental spills.

But heading off a Sept. 11-style assault could be more difficult and expensive.

"Strategies to prevent large, coordinated events can be developed but can be costly," according to portions of the report obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

The experts examined a wide range of possible attack strategies, from ramming an LNG tanker with an explosives-laden boat to crash diving a small airplane into a vessel.

Most such threats can be avoided, the report noted, by boarding vessels early on and maintaining control of tankers during transit in and out of port facilities.

But failure to do so could be catastrophic.

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., noted that under Sandia's worst-case scenario, an area within 756 square yards could be subject to heat levels great enough to burn buildings or damage steel tanks, while bystanders within more than 2,500 square yards would suffer blisterings within 30 seconds.

Calling the results "sobering," Markey, whose district includes an LNG terminal in Everett, Mass., argued that "Sandia's findings only underscore the need to ensure that any future LNG terminals are sited remotely."

Developers have identified some 50 sites in North America as potential locations to build terminals where LNG would be off-loaded. Those sites include both onshore and offshore locations.

At least eight terminals are planned for Texas, including two in the Houston area. One facility, slated for Quintana, near Freeport, is nearing the start of construction, while plans for a terminal on Pelican Island are in the early stages.

BP has plans to build an LNG terminal on the northeast corner of Pelican Island, which is connected to Galveston Island by a bridge. That facility would be about 1 1/2 miles from Pelican Island's Seawolf Park and about three miles from Galveston's historic Strand shopping district.

BP spokesman Neil Chapman argued the LNG industry has a "proven history of safe operations, with 35,000 cargo deliveries without a significant release of LNG.

While noting BP officials have not had a chance to review the study, company officials believe it could help enhance the safety precautions already in place.

Jim Lewis, head of PTL Associates, a Spring-based technical consultant for LNG projects, pointed out that "the potential for this kind of terrorist attack is not unique to LNG vessels."

"It could be crude oil tankers or gasoline tankers, which can be five times as large," Lewis said.

To transport natural gas from abroad, energy companies supercool the gas into a liquid form. Once a tanker docks, liquid is typically piped into storage tanks. From there, the liquid is warmed back into a gas and then sent via pipelines to homes and businesses.

Last year, just over 2 percent of the nation's natural gas demand was met with LNG. By 2025, LNG is expected to account for 15 percent or more of the nation's gas supply.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2957082