Sabine Pass LNG Ordered to Shut Down Leaking Gas Storage Tanks

Federal safety officials have ordered two of the five liquefied natural gas storage tanks seen here to be shut down because of leaks. (Cheniere Energy)

CLICK HERE - PHMSA Corrective Action Order to Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (9 page .PDF document)

nola.com - by Mark Schleifstein - February 10, 2018

Supercold liquefied natural gas leaked into a space between inner and outer walls of a major storage tank at the Sabine Pass LNG export facility in Cameron Parish on Jan. 22, and its minus 260-degree temperature created numerous 1-foot to 6-foot cracks in the carbon steel outer tank wall, allowing some of the gas to escape, according to an order issued Thursday (Feb. 8) by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

While investigating the leak in the tank, federal investigators were told 11 similar incidents may have occurred at that tank and a second one on the site between 2008 and 2016 . . . 

 . . . Because of the potential for such leaks to cause a catastrophic accident that would threaten the 500 workers and contractors at the facility, as well as nearby communities, including the town of Johnson Bayou, the federal safety agency  ordered the two tanks shut down within seven days. Other storage tanks at the facility must also be inspected to determine if they have experienced similar problems in the past.

(CLICK HERE - READ COMLETE ARTICLE)

CLICK HERE - PHMSA Issues Corrective Action Order to Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC