Inherent safety aspects for layout design of a floating LNG facility

This article outlines the aspects of inherent safety for the topside layout design of a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility. An FLNG plant requires a compact design; meanwhile, it needs the safest layout to tackle multi-dimensional safety issues. Thus, the layout of the facility is a paramount factor for ensuring its safety in a cost effective way. Three layouts are proposed and evaluated from the inherent safety perspective. The layout of the process area is mainly focused due to its higher risks. Integrated inherent safety index, cost index and domino hazard index are used to evaluate the three layouts in quantitative terms. An optimal layout is finally chosen based on both inherent safety and cost performance.