Freeport LNG to take months to restart full operations following fire

Freeport LNG said the incident occurred at approximately 11:40 CT on 8 June, resulting in the release of LNG, leading to the formation and ignition of a natural gas vapour cloud, and subsequent fire at the facility. There were no injuries, Freeport LNG said.

The incident occurred in pipe racks that support the transfer of LNG from the facility’s LNG storage tank area to the terminal’s dock facilities located on the intracoastal side of Freeport LNG’s dock basin. None of the liquefaction trains, LNG storage tanks, dock facilities, or LNG process areas were impacted, Freeport LNG said in a press statement.

The fire was extinguished with the help of local emergency response personnel in about 40 minutes.

According to an incident report filed at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the fire resulted in the release of carbon monoxide, NOx, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and VOCs (non-methane). Freeport LNG said the release of these substances into the air was the result of burning piping insulation and cabling. Additionally, flaring occurred at Freeport LNG’s Pretreatment Facility due to the unplanned shutdown of Freeport LNG’s liquefaction plant.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. One possible explanation of the incident suggested by Freeport LNG was an overpressure and rupture of a segment of an LNG transfer line, leading to the rapid flashing of LNG and the release and ignition of the natural gas vapour cloud. Additional investigation is underway to determine the underlying precipitating events that enabled the overpressure conditions in the LNG piping.

Repairs to return the plant to full operation are not expected to be completed until late 2022, said Freeport LNG. Resumption of partial operations is targeted to be achieved in approximately 90 days, once all regulatory clearances are obtained.