• Certification and verification services by ABS Consulting for facilities and systems where classification is neither required by the regulatory scheme nor requested by the owner. Our approach is based on the application of fitness for purpose principles so that the appropriate amount of attention is given to the components and systems that play the key roles in meeting project safety, environmental and business objectives.



• Engineering and technical support services applicable to design, operation, and maintenance of LNG vessels and offshore facilities (e.g. condition assessments, compliance reviews, procedure/manual preparation and advanced engineering analysis).



• Marine casualty response center services, which provide rapid response damage assessment services for participating vessels/platforms around the world that experience damage from accidents or intentional attacks.



• Hazards and risk assessment services that help government agencies, owners/operators and various stakeholder groups understand and manage the risks of accidents and intentional attacks in a practical manner (including detailed modeling of blast effects on LNG vessels as well as advanced modeling of the effects of various types of LNG releases from vessels while in transit or moored at a facility). This work includes compliance reviews with applicable governmental regulations and industry-based codes/standards.



• Safety and security management program development, implementation, and/or validation. LNG vessels are required to have safety management plans (under the IMO ISM code) and security management plans (under the IMO ISPS code and US Coast Guard MTSA regulations). ABS Consulting provides selected training and consulting services related to these programs.

• Engineering certification services for onshore production and storage/transfer facilities based on applicable governmental regulations and industry-based codes/standards (including design, inspection and maintenance requirements for the equipment).



• Asset integrity management services (e.g. risk-based inspection plans and associated field inspection activities) to confirm the integrity of in-service equipment.



• Hazards and risk assessment services that help government agencies, owners/operators and various stakeholder groups understand and practically manage the risks of accidents and intentional attacks in a practical manner (including advanced modeling of the effects of various types of LNG releases from facilities and the associated effects on nearby communities). This work includes compliance reviews with applicable governmental regulations and industry-based codes/standards as well as development criteria for natural hazards used in facility engineering design.



• Safety and security management program development, implementation, and/or validation. LNG facilities generally require strong safety management plans (under regulatory or corporate guidelines) and security management plans (under the IMO ISPS Code and US Coast Guard MTSA regulations). ABS Consulting provides training and consulting services related to these types of programs.

• A specific capability that ABS Consulting has developed for its clients is the ability to perform waterway suitability assessments (WSA) as defined in USCG NVIC 05-05. In supporting clients with WSAs for proposed LNG terminals, ABS Consulting has brought to bear its expertise in geographical information systems (GIS). The GIS approach implemented by ABS Consulting's WSA teams allows integration and visualization of marine navigation, population, critical infrastructure, sensitive populations, and other geographic information. This helps the WSA team to identify appropriate safety and security measures for the LNG carrier transit. For more information, please view the LNG Terminal Waterway Suitability Assessments brochure.

• ABS Consulting provides layer of protection analysis (LOPA) services for proposed LNG terminals to determine appropriate safety integrity levels (SILs) and develop safety requirements specifications (SRSs) for their safety instrumented functions (SIFs). SIL evaluations and SRSs are required for new LNG terminals to meet industry standards (e.g., IEC 61511, IEC 61508, ANSI/ISA-84.00.01-2004 [IEC 61511Mod]) for the design of safety instrumented systems (SISs). For more information, please view the LNG Terminal Safety Instrumented System (SIS) Requirements & Specifications brochure.

Analysis of Unavailability Due to Weather Conditions for Unloading at an Offshore LNG Receiving Terminal

• This project involved the definition of the weather and wave conditions that would require unloading operations at a specific offshore LNG terminal to be suspended. ABS Consulting personnel analyzed historical weather and wind conditions to define the fraction of time during which conditions would not permit LNG unloading. The results of the analysis were presented as an availability factor for consideration of the economics in evaluating the terminal operation.
  
  

Comparative Risk Assessment for Compressed Natural Gas/LNG Delivery Cycle

• ABS Consulting conducted a qualitative comparative risk study between the LNG supply value chain and the similar steps required to deliver compressed natural gas by ship.
  
  

Consequence Assessments for LNG Releases Aboard an LNG Carrier

• ABS Consulting conducted a series of consequence analyses addressing vapor cloud explosions, pool fires and jet fires resulting from LNG releases during loading and offloading of an LNG carrier. ABS Consulting assisted in the evaluation of the feasible consequence mitigation options.
  
  

Damaged LNG Carrier Operations

• ABS Consulting assessed the risks of continuing to operate an LNG carrier with a damaged tank membrane. The purpose of the assessment was to demonstrate to the U.S. Coast Guard that the vessel could safely continue operations with the damaged tank, and that suitable precautions had been taken to isolate the damage. As part of the project, ABS Consulting established a set of procedures and monitoring requirements for mitigating identified risks.
  
  

Engineering, Hazard Review and Regulatory Assistance for an Offshore LNG Receiving Terminal

• Assessment of the mooring and offloading system options for the facility, including a comparative assessment of the engineering, operating and environmental aspects of various proposals to assist the client in selecting a proposal to include in the regulatory application.
• Development of project specifications necessary to the permitting process for the general design, safety systems, environmental compliance and personnel health and safety, along with engineering information needed to support the permitting process.
• Facilitation and documentation of a hazard identification (HAZID) study to identify the hazards and failure modes applicable to the concept and to provide documentation demonstrating that control of these hazards and failure modes can be addressed in the detailed design. The HAZID is designed to support approval-in-principle of the design under the Guide for Novel Concepts published by ABS (an affiliate of ABS Consulting).
• Participation by ABS Consulting with a client during regulatory agency discussions to help present the design and demonstrate the progress being made in both the design and the assessment of risks.
  
  

HAZID of LNG Carrier Loading/Offloading Operations

• ABS Consulting conducted a series of consequence analyses addressing vapor cloud explosions, pool fires and jet fires resulting from LNG releases during loading and offloading of an LNG carrier. Working with the staff of an affiliate company, ABS Consulting evaluated feasible consequence mitigation options.
  
  

International Energy Company

• ABS Consulting developed preliminary fabrication specification for a proposed LNG floating storage and regasification unit. This work included assessment of key design parameters for structural and process systems to be able to go out to shipyards for public bid.
  
  

LNG/Gas-to-liquids FPSO Design Review and HAZID Study

• ABS Consulting led and documented an initial design review and a follow-on HAZID study of two FPSO alternatives being examined by an oil company. One design proposed an LNG liquefaction plant, while the other was a Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids process. The project included involvement by both ABS and ABS Consulting. The initial task for ABS Consulting was to host a design review meeting and provide a letter report documenting ABS' and ABS Consulting's advice regarding the conceptual design package. Based on that input, the FPSO constructor and its contractors updated the design information and submitted it for an approval-in-principle review by ABS. The review process included a five-day HAZID review that was facilitated and documented by ABS Consulting. Subsequently, ABS has provided specific design comments for consideration in further development and an approval-in-principle letter for the design alternatives.
  
  

LNG Carrier Consequence Methods Review

• ABS Consulting provided an LNG release consequence methodology review for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The scope of the effort was to define a method for examining flammable vapor and thermal radiation hazard distances from an LNG release onto the water. The report examined existing methods and provided FERC with an approach that could be defended in the public arena. Many of the comments received from the industry were related to the assumptions FERC required the analysis to address (e.g. hole size, met conditions). The initial report has been updated and many of the comments addressed.
  
  

LNG Carrier Sloshing Study

• ABS Consulting conducted a detailed analysis of LNG sloshing effects within LNG carrier containment due to the effects of vessel motions in various conditions. This study included CFD model effects of sloshing fluids, as well as subsequent stress analysis of internal tank structural elements (e.g. the pump tower).
  
  

LNG Carrier Release Consequence Review

• Using methods documented in the work for FERC, ABS Consulting performed an analysis of postulated releases from an LNG carrier at one of the existing east coast LNG import terminals. Its client sponsored the effort as one input to a review and update to its emergency response plan for LNG releases.
  
  

LNG Release Scenario Assessment

• Following the events of September 11, 2001, the potential for terrorist attacks on LNG carriers in Boston harbor was of increased concern to the Coast Guard and to the public in Boston. Amid various opinions/analyses of the potential effects of such attacks, the Coast Guard Research & Development Center requested that ABS Consulting integrate information from various sources, including independent calculations performed by our staff, to characterize the possible effects for Coast Guard decision makers. ABS Consulting developed a number of scenarios for potential LNG tanker accidents that could result in fire and/or explosion. The work included postulating failure mechanisms, evaluating the release rates and dispersion phenomena and analyzing potential fire and explosion scenarios that could result from those releases. The results of that effort were provided in a briefing that the Coast Guard used in a risk assessment meeting where proposed LNG tanker operations were being analyzed by a team of Coast Guard, industry and public participation.
  
  

LNG Terminal Terrorist Threat Consequence Analysis

• An energy company retained ABS Consulting to perform a terrorist threat consequence analysis for a proposed LNG terminal construction project. This effort involved the postulation of scenarios, the determination as to how the scenarios could be evaluated, and evaluation of the scenarios. The scenarios included a small boat explosion, an RPG attack, aircraft impact, and explosive devices. The evaluations included an analysis of a double-hull tanker against a USS Cole-type scenario that accounted for blast dissipation due to the outer hull and a realistic blast applied to the inner hull.
  
  

Natural Gas Facility Safety Distance Analysis

• ABS Consulting completed an analysis of the consequences of natural gas releases in a land-based natural gas field for a major oil company, using their in-house safety specification. This analysis involved the evaluation of the consequences of natural gas jet fires, downwind dispersion of natural gas, pool fires, flare releases and other studies required by the client's worldwide safety standard.
  
  

Offshore LNG Terminal Energetic Events Evaluation

• A major oil company contracted ABS Consulting for an energetic events assessment for a proposed offshore LNG terminal construction project. This effort involved the postulation of scenarios, the determination as to how the scenarios could be evaluated and examples of the evaluation, and an evaluation of the consequences and their likelihood. The scenarios included vessel explosion, vessel collision, vessel collision with explosives, aircraft impact and aircraft impact with explosives, explosive devices, projectiles, and sabotage.
  
  

Ongoing Support to Major Oil Company LNG Risk Assessment Program

• ABS Consulting provides continuing support to a major oil company's LNG risk assessment program. Activities include citing analyses, risk integration of consequence efforts performed by in-house personnel, and other risk assessment consulting tasks.
  
  

Operational Risk of an LNG Terminal and an LPG Terminal

• ABS Consulting studied a pair of adjacent loading facilities that are designed to load LNG at one and LPG/condensate at the other. The concern was for interaction between the simultaneous marine operations at each terminal, and the potential cascading of accidental scenarios. Critical concerns included ability of ships to maneuver under both normal and emergency conditions without an adverse effect on the adjacent facility.
  
  

Risk Assessment of an LNG Ship's Cargo and Machinery Systems

• ABS Consulting analyzed an LNG ship's cargo handling system and power generation machinery design for an oil company. The scope of this analysis included the major process equipment, piping and instrumentation. The analysis of the LNG ship's power generation machinery focused primarily on failures that could directly cause employee and/or public safety consequences or significant operability concerns. The review resulted in specific recommendations to improve the design and enhance the safety of the proposed LNG ship's power generation systems.
  
  

Risk Study for Proposed LNG Terminal

• ABS Consulting provided support to a local government's risk study for an LNG terminal being considered for a U.S. location. ABS Consulting provided input on maritime impacts of the project and maritime security requirements, and helped frame the overall risk picture for the proposed terminal. The work consisted of providing presentations at public meetings, answering public and government agency questions, and developing information for a final project report for the local municipality's safety committee.
  
  

Security Vulnerability Assessment of an Onshore Terminal

• ABS Consulting provided a major oil company with security risk assessment services for a proposed east coast LNG terminal. Services included a security vulnerability assessment (SVA) workshop to review the current design and proposed operations of the terminal, with an emphasis on the dock and marine facilities and activities. The assessment was conducted and the report prepared using the American Petroleum Institute's (API's) SVA methodology, incorporating additional issues required to address the U.S. Coast Guard's (Coast Guard) expectations and for compliance with federal maritime regulations, as outlined in 33 CFR 101, 103 and 105. This work has been extended to assist the client with other Coast Guard security issues for several facilities.
  
  

Seismic Hazard Analyses

• ABS Consulting has performed seismic hazard analyses for several onshore LNG terminals, including facilities in Mexico (including Baja California), Louisiana and Indonesia. ABS Consulting personnel also developed seismic criteria for a proposed LNG terminal in Texas.