Exponent staff has broad experience performing LNG hazard analyses, as well as qualitative or quantitative risk assessments for LNG plants. This experience covers LNG liquefaction facilities, LNG receiving terminals (both onshore and offshore), and LNG storage and peakshaving plants.
Exponent’s risk analysis services include: 
- LNG hazard analysis for onshore and offshore facilities
- LNG spill and pool spreading
- Vapor dispersion exclusion zones
- From storage, transfer, and process equipment areas or impoundments
- From transfer-area trenches
- Integral models (DEGADIS) and CFD (Fluent)
- Thermal radiation exclusion zones
- Exponent has performed thermal radiation hazard distance calculations, for spills into impoundments as well as spills over water, using a variety of models, such as LNGFIRE3 and other variations of the solid flame model.
- Exponent has extensive experience using CFD fire modeling tools, such as the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), for both small- and large-scale fires; CFD tools such as FDS can be used to model LNG pool fires in cases where the fire is significantly affected by the presence of buildings or other obstructions.
- Probability of ignition of LNG vapor clouds
- Waterways suitability assessment
- Hazard zones for large vessels
- Flash fire hazard distances
- Review and comments on LNG standards and regulations
- 24 CFR 51 (HUD)
- 49 CFR 193 (DOT)
- 33 CFR 127 (USCG)
- API 521
- NFPA 59A
- EN 1473
- Hazard Identification (HAZID) and Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies, and Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA)
- External hazards such as docking and maneuvering of ships and aircraft crashes
- Natural hazards such as lightning, floods, and earthquakes
- Internal hazards such as leaks from LNG piping, storage, and process areas in the terminal
- Special cases hazards such as neighboring LPG/gasoline storage, vehicle traffic, electric installations, and communication failure between ship and terminal
Variations in gas quality can raise reliability concerns for pipeline companies, multi-user LNG import terminals, LNG traders and marketers, gas distributors, and especially end users of natural gas fuel such as power-station owners. The potential for downstream problems related to imported natural gas is compounded by a lack of industry-wide agreement on parameters for measuring and assessing gas quality and interchangeability. 
“Natural gas” is not pure methane; it contains a variety of heavier hydrocarbons, inert species, and other components. Every gas source has a different proportion of these constituents. Interchangeability is the ability to substitute one gaseous fuel for another without materially changing the performance and safety of pipeline systems and end-use equipment.
Common parameters that have been used to define an acceptable operating range are gas heating value, the “Wobbe Index,” specific gravity, and restrictions on components such as heavy hydrocarbons and inert gases (nitrogen and carbon dioxide).
Exponent can analyze these issues and their effect on a company’s operations. Solutions need to be found that protect the performance, safety, and emissions of natural gas equipment without unduly restricting the LNG supplies that can be used.