Safety, Health and Environmental Issues in Liquefying Methane From Algerian Natural Gas Essay

Introduction

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is an energy source of great significance in terms of energy diversity and security. As one of the leading producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world, the demand for this natural resource from Algeria is growing by the day (Stellman 1998).

The first shipment of LNG from Algeria to the United Kingdom took place about 41 years ago, and the demand for natural resources appears to be growing by the day (Orgill 2004).

The liquefaction of natural gas can be traced as early as the 19th century, a time when the British physicist and chemist Michael Faraday undertook some experiments that involved liquefaction of various kinds of gases and these include natural gases as well (Tusiani 2007). In 1941, the first plant to undertake commercial liquefaction of natural gases was constructed in Cleveland, Ohio.

In terms of composition, methane is the chief constituent of natural gas. Through a liquefaction process, the natural gas may then be compressed into a form that renders its utilization for heating and cooking at homes (Pearce 1995). The temporary conversion of the liquefied natural gases to the liquid state is for purposes of easing not just its storage, but transportation as well.

Amongst all the other fossil fuels, natural gases have thus far been regarded as ‘the most environmentally friendly of these, owing to reduced emissions of carbon dioxide fro every energy unit. However, there are some environmental groups that are against the utilization of LNG, on grounds of the carbon dioxide emissions during the production as well as the transpiration of this natural resource (Tusiani 2007).

In terms of safety, the production, storage and transportation of this combustible substance and fuel requires that certain safety measures be followed. Like all the other hydrocarbons, there is a need to handle LNG with the necessary measures of safety. This is important in order to mitigate accident related to its production and storage (Michot 2003).

Process hazards

Although LNG may not be quite explosive in a liquefied state and therefore is not at risk of burning, nevertheless there is a need to ensure that the no leaks are evident during its storage or transport, as they would result in it vaporizing rapidly, being transformed into a gas, and thereby mixing with air (Elvers 1993). Although such a mixing process could take place in what is known as the flammable range, an ignition risk could however occur, and this may cause fire, as well as hazards of thermal radiation (CH-IV International 2002).

LNG has been depicted as one of the safest fossil fuels. Even so, the inherent threats of fire that are connected to the natural resource are quite profound. According to some estimates by the Sandia National Labs in the United States, even the minutest of the tanker breaches during the transportation of LNG is enough to result in the ignition of a fire capable of spreading a distance of more than half a mile, in addition to burning for about 20 minutes (Koroneos et al 2008)

Environmental impact

The extraction of natural gas in Algeria, just like in any other natural gas producing nations, poses a threat to the ecosystem. It is important to note that the drilling for the natural gas could take place in public lands and farms, parks, forests, as well as Rocky Mountains (Hobson 1984).

In addition, the numerous compressor stations and pipelines that crisscross the environment are an added risk factor, seeing that these have a tendency of crossing various kinds of ecosystems. Besides, the power plants for these natural gasses have been recognized as major sources of air pollution (Fisher 1994). Not only do these emit air pollutants that are quite hazardous, they also play a significant role in global warming, in addition to contributing to the emission of fine particulate matter.

There are a number of serious accidents that have occurred, involving the issue of LNG. For example, on the 29^th of January, 2004 an explosion took place at, Skikda, Algeria, at the nation’s NNG liquefaction facility, Sonatrach (Orgill 2009). In total, 27 people got killed, a further 56 of them escaped with various kinds of injuries, while three trains belonging to LNG were also destroyed. Due to this development, the LNG production levels in Algeria reduced to 76 percent, in 2004.

The cause of the fire was later traced to a team boiler, and which constituted the liquefaction train. This boiler exploded, and this is then what set off an immense gas detonation of the hydrocarbon. 2004 production was down 76% for the year (Orgill 2009). A steam boiler that was part of a liquefaction train exploded triggering a massive hydrocarbon gas explosion. The explosion occurred where propane and ethane refrigeration storage were located (APS Review 2009).

Risk management

It is important that the necessary measures be initiated to manage as well as mitigate the impacts of natural gas liquefying process, so that the personnel involved may not be subjected to any kind of harm as a result of the process, the liquefied materials themselves, or even the process equipment (Stellman 1998). This could become viable by the application of management systems on safety. On of the process that could be incorporated in such a system is HEMP (Hazard and Effects Management Process).

The HEMP process is usually recommended that it be applied right from the conception of a project, up to a decommissioning of the same. Generally, the HEMP process is geared towards an identification of the possible hazards in a process, an evaluation of the chances of such hazards taking place, as well as the impacts that could emanate from the occurrence of these kinds of hazards (Brookshire 2009). As such, the HEMP process seeks to assist in an effective control of a process, while at the same time ensuring that the individual involved in the process are protected from both the materials and the instruments. Moreover, this system ensures that such people are able to recover from any kind of a containment loss, with the least amount of consequences.

In terms of LNG product containment, one of the key requirements is to make sue that the most appropriate material has been used in the construction of the NLG facilities. In addition, it is important that the storage tanks be properly designed, to avoid leakage, as this would pose threats to both the personnel and the environment as well (Burgherr & Hirschberg 2009). The other form of containment otherwise referred to as secondary containment, sees to it that spills or leaks of the product do not take place onshore, at a designated facility of LNG. In this regard, the utilization of ‘high level alarm system’ would be a necessity.

Environmental consequences of generating and transportation

In comparison with coal power plant, their natural gas counterparts have been shown to contribute only about half the amount of carbon dioxide emission to the environment. This notwithstanding, the combustion of natural gas that is necessary to generate and also to transport the LNG into the power plants have been shown to contribute between 20 and 40 percent extra carbon dioxide, in comparison to the practice of just burning the natural gas only (California Energy Commission 2009).

Moreover, the processes of extraction the natural gas, it’s processing, the transportation of the same in a chilled from, as well as a conversion of this natural gas into a form that may be utilized for example in the home environment; all of these processes when considered together, significantly contributes to the emission of the greenhouse gases (Carson & Mumford 2003).

Conclusion

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is increasingly gaining demand in the international market as an energy source of energy diversity and security. This has mean that the trade in this natural resources for such renowned producers as Algeria in looking promising. Fro the most part, the extraction, production, storage, as well as the transportation process of LNG is considered less risky, in comparison with that of the other natural gasses. Furthermore, the carob emission as a result of the extraction of this natural resource is quite low. Nevertheless, the ensuing transportation and storage of this product, as well as the conversion of the same into a form that is worth using, significantly contributes to the green house gasses. In it’s liquefied from, LNG is relatively safe, but a hazard such has a fire explosion could occur as a result of a leakage or spills.

It is important therefore to ensure that the correct health and safety measures are followed in terms of storage and transportation. This is also vital, in order to protect the personnel. Moreover, the safety of the equipment used in constructing the gas facility, along with a design of the same, shall go a long way into containing a possible leakage.

Furthermore, the storage tanks and the piping systems of the LNG are known to interfere with the ecosystem, while the energy sources and resources such as water that are used in the processing of this product, are a hazard to the environment. For this reason, the risk management system that should be adopted to contain risk and hazards of methane liquefaction process should take into account these risks, so those individual working on site, as well as the environment itself, may be spared from accidents and risks.

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