Maritime Security: Public Safety Consequences of a Terrorist Attack on a Tanker Carrying Liquefied Natural Gas Need Clarification
Highlights
The United States imports natural gas by pipeline from Canada and by tanker as liquefied natural gas (LNG) from overseas. LNG--a supercooled form of natural gas--currently accounts for about 3 percent of total U.S. natural gas supply, with an expected increase to about 17 percent by 2030, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). With this projected increase, many more LNG import terminals have been proposed. However, concerns have been raised about whether LNG tankers could become terrorist targets, causing the LNG cargo to spill and catch on fire, and potentially explode. DOE has recently funded a study to consider these effects; completion is expected in 2008. GAO was asked to (1) describe the results of recent studies on the consequences of an LNG spill and (2) identify the areas of agreement and disagreement among experts concerning the consequences of a terrorist attack on an LNG tanker. To address these objectives, GAO, among other things, convened an expert panel to discuss the consequences of an attack on an LNG tanker.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | To provide the most comprehensive and accurate information for assessing the public safety risks posed by tankers transiting to proposed LNG facilities, the Secretary of Energy should ensure that DOE incorporates the key issues identified by the expert panel into its current LNG study. In particular, DOE should examine the potential for cascading failure of LNG tanks in order to understand the damage to the hull that could be caused by exposure to extreme cold or heat. |
Closed – Implemented
Based on GAO's recommendation, DOE directed Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) to develop and execute a research plan examining the potential consequences of large-scale LNG fires and the potential for cascading failure of an LNG tanker. In response, Sandia developed and executed a research plan that includes a detailed examination of the physics of LNG fires ignited after LNG is spilled on water and the potential for cascading failure of an LNG tanker when exposed to extreme temperatures.
|