Safety

Liquefied natural gas is safe when handled properly.

Over almost 50 years of commercial operation, the liquefied natural gas industry has earned an enviable reputation for safety.

Worldwide, modern liquefied natural gas storage tanks have never suffered a crack failure. liquefied natural gas ships have completed more than 80,000 voyages, all without a major incident.

Australian operators have an exemplary record, safely completing more than 2600 shipments to customers around the world.

A combination of factors is behind this record, including extensive training for people, a thorough understanding of the risks associated with liquefied natural gas, proven safety systems and strict adherence to standards, codes and regulations.

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, commonly known as the CSIRO, has shown that liquefied natural gas poses less of a potential hazard than many commonly used fuels.

For example, liquefied natural gas is harder to ignite than diesel.

Although liquefied natural gas contains a large amount of energy, that energy cannot be released rapidly enough to cause the overpressures associated with an explosion.

When liquefied natural gas mixes with water or comes in contact with land, it warms to form a white vapour cloud that dissipates in air, leaving no lasting residue.

The extremely low temperature of liquefied natural gas and the potential for vapours to ignite in the presence of a spark are the key risks to be managed.