Аннотация
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) has become an important component of the global energy infrastructure because of its high energy density and suitability for long-distance transportation. However, its cryogenic temperature, flammability, and potential for rapid vaporisation create significant safety hazards that require effective engineering design, operational control, and risk management. This study presents a global analysis of major LNG accidents, focusing on accident causes, failure modes, severity, risk assessment approaches, and their implications for the development of long-distance insulated LNG pipelines. This study examined six major LNG-related incidents between 1944 and 2014: Cleveland, Cove Point, Bontang, Everett, Skikda, and Plymouth. The study used descriptive statistics, Pareto analysis, accident severity classification, and failure-mode assessment to identify recurring accident patterns and major areas of concern. The analysis recorded 159 fatalities and 305 injuries across the six incidents, with four incidents involving LNG release. Equipment failure and operational/startup errors were the most frequently represented causes, each accounting for 33.3% of the incidents, while pressure surge and storage-tank failure each accounted for 16.7%. The results demonstrate that although major LNG accidents are relatively infrequent, their consequences can be catastrophic, as evidenced by the Cleveland accident, which recorded the highest number of fatalities. Key failure modes identified include storage-tank failure, cryogenic pipeline vacuum loss, thermal contraction, fatigue, insulation degradation, transfer-system leakage, instrumentation failure, and emergency shutdown failure. The study further highlights the importance of quantitative risk assessment, leak detection, emergency isolation, and safety-critical elements in reducing LNG accident risks. For long-distance insulated LNG pipelines, the findings emphasise the need for cryogenic-compatible materials, reliable insulation and vacuum monitoring, pressure and surge protection, thermal-expansion provisions, continuous integrity monitoring, automatic emergency shutdown, and effective emergency response. The study concludes that historical LNG accident experience provides an essential foundation for developing safer, more reliable, and economically viable long-distance LNG pipeline transportation systems.