Risk assessment of equipment at gas storage depots based on clustering and principal component analysis

In China, the number of gas storage depots under construction and planning has increased in recent years. The scale of construction is moving towards large-scale development, increasing the safety risk. This study analyzed the risk to ground equipment at gas storage depots by examining the site conditions of the Wen 96 gas storage depot. Furthermore, this paper proposed a calculation method to semi-quantitatively assess the risk implications to ground process equipment at gas storage depots and a quantitative model for the failure consequences using the API581 method. The API581 risk failure consequence analytical data was used to propose comprehensive risk assessment methods for process equipment at gas storage depots, including cluster and principal component analyses. Categories and equipment with principal component characteristics were suggested that considered the risk impact factors and rankings of vital equipment, improving the quantification of the API581 method. This work enhanced the quantitative risk evaluation accuracy when assessing equipment. Risk mitigation measures are provided according to the revised risk ranking, which is highly significant to the safe operation of gas storage depots.