A blast at an LNG export facility in Algeria left at least 27 dead.

LNG is transported across continents on huge ships, and then offloaded into storage tanks. From there, it is converted to natural gas, which is moved by way of high-capacity pipelines. All of this infrastructure is vulnerable to both accidents and terrorist attacks.

An LNG spill would create a hazard zone with attendant risk of fire, explosion, gas asphyxiation, and/or cryogenic burns. Released LNG will partially revert to its gaseous state, creating a vapor cloud that, if ignited, could cause a fire ranging more than seven miles from an LNG terminal or a tanker in transit. An accidental LNG tanker collision with the terminal or another vessel, a deliberate terrorist attack, human error during operations, equipment failure, or a natural disaster such as an earthquake could cause a tanker failure and resulting vapor cloud fire.

In 2004, an LNG accident at a Bechtel-build facility in Skikda, Algeria killed 28 people and injured dozens more. That accident shattered windows more than 5 miles away. In 1944, an LNG accident in Cleveland, Ohio killed 131 people, and destroyed 79 homes. Terrorism expert Richard Clarke, writing in his book "Against All Enemies," says that LNG tankers are known terrorist targets. No precaution or risk assessment can guarantee safety in case of accident, earthquake, or terrorism.

"An ignited LNG vapor cloud or large LNG pool fire can cause extensive damage to life and property" - California Energy Commission, July 2003

"A (LNG) Pool fire is intense, burning far more hotly and rapidly than oil or gasoline fires. It cannot be extinguished.........its thermal radiation may injure people and damage property a considerable distance from the fire itself." - CRS Report for Congress, Jan 28, 2004

"If about 3 million gallons of LNG spills onto the water from an LNG tanker ship, flammable vapors from the spill could travel up to 3 miles." Professor Jerry Havens, August 16, 2005 Portland, OR - Billy Frank Conference Center

More information

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report: Maritime Security: "Public Safety Consequences of a Terrorist Attack on a Tanker Carrying Liquefied Natural Gas Need Clarification". http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-07-316

LNG Facilities in Urban Areas A Security Risk Management Analysis for Attorney General Patrick Lynch - Rhode Island by Principal Investigator - Richard A Clarke / May 2005 http://www.goodharbor.net/documents/pdf-liquid-natural-gas-report.pdf LNG

Security Procedure Review of Boston Harbor and Everett Distrigas LNG Facility: http://www.thememoryhole.org/energy/lng_security_distrigas.htm

Sandia Laboratories Report - January 2006 - Review of the Independent Risk Assessment of the Cabrillo Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port Project http://www.slc.ca.gov/Division_Pages/DEPM/DEPM_Programs_and_Reports/ BHP_Deep_Water_Port/RevisedDraftEIR/1aCabTransport/Appendices/ C2_Sandia%20Review.pdf