ISO/TC 67/SC 9 - Liquefied natural gas installations and equipment

This document gives guidance on the risk-based approach to follow for the design and operation of the LNG bunker transfer system, including the interface between the LNG bunkering supply facilities and receiving LNG fuelled vessels. This document provides requirements and recommendations for the development of a bunkering site and facility and the LNG bunker transfer system, providing the minimum functional requirements qualified by a structured risk assessment approach taking into consideration LNG properties and behaviour, simultaneous operations and all parties involved in the operation. This document is applicable to bunkering of both seagoing and inland trading vessels. It covers LNG bunkering from shore or ship, mobile to ship and ship to ship LNG supply scenarios, as described in Clause 4.

This document provides specific requirements and guidance for the design and operation of floating LNG storage and regasification units (FSRU) described in ISO 20257-1. This document is applicable to offshore, near-shore or docked FSRUs and to both new-built and converted FSRUs. This document includes requirements to the jetty when an FSRU is moored to a jetty.

This document provides requirements and guidance for the design and operation of floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) installations, including installations for the liquefaction, storage, vaporisation, transfer and handling of LNG, in order to have a safe and environmentally acceptable design and operation of floating LNG installations. This document is applicable to: — floating LNG liquefaction installations (plant) — FLNG; — floating LNG regasification installations (plant) — FSRU; — floating storage units — FSU. This document is applicable to offshore, near-shore or docked floating LNG installations. This document includes any jetty in the scope in case of docked floating LNG installations with regards to the mooring. This document briefly describes floating LNG mooring concepts. This document is applicable to both newbuilt and converted floating LNG installations, and addresses specific requirements. This document is not applicable to: — onshore LNG storage, liquefaction and/or regasification installations/plants, except for docked FSRU and/or FLNG installations; — offshore LNG plants based on non-floating structure (such as gravity based structure [GBS] principle); and — support onshore based facilities (such as support vessels, tugs, etc.). This document is not intended for design floating power generation facilities though relevant parts of this document can be used. This document is not intended to cover LNG as fuel bunkering applications.

This document describes a method for determining the resistance of Cryogenic Spill Protection (CSP) systems to vapour generated from a cryogenic liquid release where the liquid content is practically zero. It is applicable where CSP systems are installed on carbon steel. The test provided in this document is not applicable to high pressure cryogenic liquid releases that can be found in refrigeration circuits and in LNG streams immediately post-liquefaction.

This document describes a method for determining the resistance of a cryogenic spill protection (CSP) system to a cryogenic jet as a result of a pressurized release which does not result in immersion conditions. It is applicable where CSP systems are installed on carbon steel and will be in contact with cryogenic fluids. A cryogenic jet can be formed upon release from process equipment operating at pressure (e.g. some liquefaction processes utilize 40 to 60 bar operating pressure). Due to high pressure discharge, the cryogenic spillage protection can be compromised by the large momentum combined with extreme cryogenic temperature. Although the test uses liquid nitrogen as the cryogenic liquid, the test described in this document is representative of a release of LNG, through a 20 mm orifice or less, at a release pressure of 6 barg or less, based upon simulated parameters 1 m from the release point. Confidence in this test being representative is based upon a comparison of the expected dynamic pressure of the simulated release in comparison with dynamic pressure from releases in accordance with this document. It is not practical in this test to cover the whole range of cryogenic process conditions found in real plant conditions; in particular the test does not cover high pressure cryogenic jet releases that might be found in refrigeration circuits and in LNG streams immediately post-liquefaction. Liquid nitrogen is used as the cryogenic medium due to the ability to safely handle the material at the pressures described in this document. The test condition is run at nominally 8 barg pressure. ISO 20088-1 covers cryogenic release scenarios which can lead to pooling conditions for steel work protected by cryogenic spill protection as a result of a jet release or low pressure release of LNG or liquid nitrogen. ISO 20088-2 covers vapour phase exposure conditions as a result of a jet release or low pressure release of LNG or liquid nitrogen.

ISO 20088-1:2016 describes a method for determining the resistance to liquid cryogenic spillage on cryogenic spillage protection (CSP) systems. It is applicable where CSP systems are installed on carbon steel and will be in contact with cryogenic fluids. Liquid nitrogen is used as the cryogenic medium since it has a lower boiling point than liquid natural gas or liquid oxygen and it is not flammable. Additionally, it can be safely used for experiment. Future parts of the standard will cover vapour phase and jet exposure conditions. The test laboratory is responsible to conduct an appropriate risk assessment according to local regulation in order to consider the impact of liquid and gaseous nitrogen exposure to equipment and personnel.

ISO 16904:2016 specifies the design, minimum safety requirements and inspection and testing procedures for liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine transfer arms intended for use on conventional onshore LNG terminals, handling LNG carriers engaged in international trade. It can provide guidance for offshore and coastal operations. It also covers the minimum requirements for safe LNG transfer between ship and shore. Although the requirements for power/control systems are covered, this International Standard does not include all the details for the design and fabrication of standard parts and fittings associated with transfer arms. ISO 16904:2016 is supplementary to local or national standards and regulations and is additional to the requirements of ISO 28460. ISO 16904:2016 needs not be applied to existing facilities.

ISO 16903:2015 gives guidance on the characteristics of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the cryogenic materials used in the LNG industry. It also gives guidance on health and safety matters. It is intended to act as a reference document for the implementation of other standards in the liquefied natural gas field. It is intended as a reference for use by persons who design or operate LNG facilities.

ISO/TR 17177:2015 provides guidance for installations, equipment and operation at the ship to terminal and ship to ship interface for hybrid floating and fixed LNG terminals that might not comply with the description of "Conventional LNG Terminal" included in ISO 28460. ISO/TR 17177:2015 is intended to be read in conjunction with ISO 28460 to ensure the safe and efficient LNG transfer operation at these marine facilities. ISO/TR 17177:2015 also addresses high pressure natural gas (HPNG) at the transfer interface at facilities where liquefaction or regasification is undertaken, but does not describe requirements for the process plant generally forming part of the terminal facility. These guidelines are based around facilities that are currently in operation or under development.

ISO/TS 16901:2015 provides a common approach and guidance to those undertaking assessment of the major safety hazards as part of the planning, design, and operation of LNG facilities onshore and at shoreline using risk-based methods and standards, to enable a safe design and operation of LNG facilities. The environmental risks associated with an LNG release are not addressed in this Technical Specification.

ISO 28460:2010 specifies the requirements for ship, terminal and port service providers to ensure the safe transit of an LNG carrier through the port area and the safe and efficient transfer of its cargo. It is applicable to pilotage and vessel traffic services (VTS); tug and mooring boat operators; terminal operators; ship operators; suppliers of bunkers, lubricants and stores and other providers of services whilst the LNG carrier is moored alongside the terminal. ISO 28460:2010 includes provisions for a ship's safe transit, berthing, mooring and unberthing at the jetty; cargo transfer; access from jetty to ship; operational communications between ship and shore; all instrumentation, data and electrical connections used across the interface, including OPS (cold ironing), where applicable; the liquid nitrogen connection (where fitted); ballast water considerations. ISO 28460:2010 applies only to conventional onshore LNG terminals and to the handling of LNGC's in international trade. However, it can provide guidance for offshore and coastal operations.

ISO/TS 18683:2015 gives guidance on the minimum requirements for the design and operation of the LNG bunkering facility, including the interface between the LNG supply facilities and receiving ship as shown in Figure 1. ISO/TS 18683:2015 provides requirements and recommendations for operator and crew competency training, for the roles and responsibilities of the ship crew and bunkering personnel during LNG bunkering operations, and the functional requirements for equipment necessary to ensure safe LNG bunkering operations of LNG fuelled ships. ISO/TS 18683:2015 is applicable to bunkering of both seagoing and inland trading vessels. It covers LNG bunkering from shore or ship LNG supply facilities, as shown in Figure 1 and described in Clause 4, and addresses all operations required such as inerting, gassing up, cooling down, and loading.