UPDATE 1: Experts Conducting Investigation at Plymouth LNG Facility

A team of third-party experts is carrying out an investigation after an explosion and fire occurred on Monday at Williams Partners’ LNG facility near Plymouth, Washington. Williams has established a team to support the efforts to determine the cause, repair and restart the plant operations, the company said in a statement.

A preliminary assessment of the approximately 80-acre facility shows damage to equipment including piping, yard valves, a compressor station and an LNG tank. Personnel and authorities are assessing the extent of damage to the tank and have determined it is secure and not leaking. Damage also occurred to several structures on site including the control room and mechanic shop; access to buildings is limited pending clearance by structural experts, Williams said.

Although the cause of the March 31 explosion will not be known until the investigation is complete, preliminary evidence indicates that it originated within the fence line of the facility to the west of the LNG tanks in the central portion of the facility. Neither the full extent of the damage nor the time needed to make repairs is known at this time. Williams Partners’ Northwest Pipeline natural-gas transmission system is operating; no interruptions to customers are expected based on the current supply/demand profile in the region, the company added.

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LNG World News Staff, April 3, 2014; Image: Williams