ABS Announces Guidance Notes

Responding to industry demand for offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, ABS launches its "Guidance Notes for Building and Classing Offshore LNG Terminals" at this year's annual Offshore Technology Conference. The Guidance Notes provide industry with a comprehensive document outlining ABS procedures for LNG classification and cross-references ABS and other relevant industry documents for building LNG terminals. "Although industry has successfully dealt with oil and gas processing facilities on Floating Production Storage Units for a number of years, the liquefaction and cryogenic storage of LNG offshore is a whole new arena. This transition requires a comprehensive approach toward design and review of all the elements and criteria involved in an offshore LNG terminal," said William J. Sember, ABS Vice President of Offshore Development. He noted that a key issue for the floating terminal concepts is designing for the relative motion between the terminal and LNG carrier during offloading operations. Areas of emphasis within the Guidance Notes include the terminal structure; the hull design; the mooring system; the offloading system; LNG containment systems; process facilities; and support and safety systems. The document also addresses LNG terminal installation, hook-up and commissioning and surveys during construction and operation. Designers and operators also may consider risk-based alternatives to strict compliance with prescriptive rules. The Guidance Notes facilitate industry development of both gravity-based and floating terminals contemplated for offshore installation.