Design Considerations for Small-Scale LNG Facilities

Design considerations for small-scale LNG facilities

With the influx of natural gas production throughout the United States, the small-scale LNG market is growing at a rapid pace.  From LNG production and trucking facilities in the central plains to bunkering vessels along the Pacific and Gulf coasts, the jurisdictional requirements for designing and siting such facilities in a safe and practical way vary with each individual operational purpose, infrastructure connection and location. 

Proper design of a facility concept will start with the application of good engineering practice and relevant standards followed by preliminary siting and feasibility to determine that a particular parcel of land is appropriate for the desired project.  While the applicable design codes for safe design are generally clearer, the appropriate requirements and approved models for siting are often less clearly defined and can vary depending on jurisdictional responsibility. 

This paper describes the necessary considerations for safe project design and operation as well as typical jurisdictional boundaries and their associated requirements for facility siting, which can be performed concurrently during the early stages of an LNG project development, before significant time and cost has been expended by the owner in land acquisition and the prepration of design.