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s operators seek design options for receiving
LNG from gas carriers, ABS presents concrete offshore LNG terminals
as a safe, economic and environmentally friendly alternative
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conventional materials and designs, says Dajiu Jiang, ABS Senior Engineer.
“The technology is here, and state-of-the-art design procedures
are available for predicting loads, structural responses and fatigue
behavior. Methodologies for analyzing accident design scenarios
are being refined and improved. By analyzing and presenting the
feasibility, benefits and challenges of designs using pre-stressed
concrete in offshore terminals, ABS is continuing to support LNG
development,” said Jiang.
Jiang recently presented these issues in a technical paper at the
annual Offshore Technology Conference in Houston to an audience
including designers and major energy companies. Jiang also presented
the topic at a committee meeting of concrete LNG containment systems
in Washington, DC, sponsored by the American Concrete Institute
(ACI).
“Both audiences were very receptive,” reported Jiang.
“At OTC, representatives from the US Coast Guard seemed particularly
interested and requested a copy of the paper. ACI, a very specialized
audience in the onshore concrete industry looking to expand offshore,
is presently revising the rules for concrete structures to accommodate
LNG,” he said.
The presentation at OTC reviewed the successful experience of the
Hibernia concrete platform in Newfoundland, Canada, and focused
upon potential applications in the Gulf of Mexico and other coastal
areas of the United States where conventional LNG infrastructure
is lacking.
Pre-stressed concrete structures have many advantages over steel
installations, such as resistance to cryogenic temperatures, high
resistance to thermal shock, good marine durability and extended
fatigue life. However, concrete structures also involve challenges
to design, construction, transportation and installation, says Jiang.
ABS is reviewing these issues, addressing consequences for LNG
leakage, boat impacts and other hazards not fully discussed in existing
design codes. This effort builds upon ABS’ newly published
Guide
for Building and Classing Offshore LNG Terminals.
The complete technical paper, “Concrete
LNG Offshore Terminals – A Viable Solution and Technical Challenges,”
is co-authored by Dajiu Jiang, Ge Wang, Bret C. Montaruli and Kenneth
L. Richardson, all of ABS.
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