The Safety Of The LNG Terminals at Milford Haven

LNG SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

The South Hook (ExxonMobil) and Dragon (Petroplus) LNG projects at Milford Haven could supply 30% of the UK’s gas requirements.  Existing facilities at the Milford Haven waterway provide ideal sites for UK access.

The principal safety legislation covering LNG establishments is the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH). Their aim is to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances and limit the consequences of any accident to people and the environment. In Wales (and England) COMAH regulations are enforced jointly by a Competent Authority comprising the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency - in the case of LNG establishments the HSE is the lead authority.

The HSE assessed the risks for LNG storage at Milford Haven, including a pre-construction safety report designed to ensure safety is fully considered at the design stage. Another report, the pre-operations safety report, is required to ensure the operator has taken all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and limit consequences to people and the environment. If the Competent Authority considers there is evidence of serious deficiency in any of the measures taken or proposed it will prohibit those parts of the operation.

Regular inspection visits will be made by the Competent Authority during the construction phase to ensure adherence to accepted standards are being met. LNG terminals are also required, under COMAH, to produce an on-site emergency plan before operations commence and this must be shared with the local authority to assist them in their production of an off-site emergency plan.

CONCERNS FOLLOWING THE BUNCEFIELD EXPLOSION

The HSE is continuing its investigations. It is too early to speculate as to the cause of the explosion, but the HSE's conclusions will be disseminated to wider industry and the general public in due course and will, of course, help ensure that such an incident is prevented from occurring elsewhere.

LNG Tanks

The HSE advise that the fuel & oil storage tanks at Buncefield are single skinned steel storage tanks designed for low pressure storage at normal temperatures. LNG tanks are of a fundamentally different design.  They are full containment tanks designed to BS7777 or API620 standards, which are the most stringent.  Sites have to meet European standards for onshore LNG storage, standard BSEN1473.

The tanks comprise a primary containment steel vessel manufactured from 9% nickel.  Next to this is an insulation layer.  On top of this is a carbon steel liner.  On the outside is a secondary concrete containment outer layer.  The tank is designed to protect against impact, heat from outside and cold from inside.

Fire Service Response

Mid and West Wales Fire Service have tried and tested risk management plans that have been reviewed and refined over a period of time. They are currently in the process of internally reviewing their risk plans to take account of the early emerging findings from the Buncefield incident.  The Chief Fire Officer, and a small team, have visited Buncefield to ensure they have first hand knowledge of the incident.  When the formal findings become available these will be scrutinised and used, where applicable, to further update the M&WWFRS risk management plan.