LR releases guide for calculating explosion loads

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has published new guidance notes for the calculation of probabilistic explosion loads in the oil and gas industry.

The guidance notes provide recommended practices to help engineers, operators and designers to define blast and explosion loads to control and mitigate risk measures in offshore operations.

Oil and gas scenarios

The new Guidance Notes for the Calculation of Probabilistic Explosion Loads provide information on how to establish explosion loads based on probability considerations of different operating oil and gas scenarios.

To maximise safety in offshore operations, structures and equipment that could be subjected to blast pressures need to be designed for accidental blast loading. This approach allows for a detailed examination and assessment through a range of probabilistic risk assessment techniques, which help companies to predict possible explosion scenarios.

Comments

Joar Dalheim, VP Technology at Lloyd’s Register Energy commented: “By using these Guidance Notes with our Rules for Offshore Units, companies can simplify and streamline their design appraisal process to give them a fast and highly cost-effective solution.”

A wide variety of measures can be used by companies operating offshore to prevent, control and mitigate the effects of explosions. While the emphasis should always be on explosion prevention, the possible accumulation and ignition of a flammable hydrocarbon-air mix cannot always be eliminated.

LNG plants

The methodology can be applied to any offshore unit where gas explosion hazards are possible. It also includes special guidance on how to handle leak scenarios from LNG plants, which can be caused by ‘flashing’ of cryogenic liquids in to the atmosphere such as LNG and LPG.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/09022015/lr-guide-for-offshore-explosions-209/