Location: LNG Facility – Kenai, Alaska
Overview: Meeting FERC Seismic Compliance Requirements
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities operating in seismically active regions such as Kenai, Alaska are subject to strict regulatory oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Under 49 CFR Part 193 and associated FERC engineering guidelines, LNG operators must:
- Monitor seismic activity at or near the site
- Record and retain ground motion data
- Evaluate structural integrity following seismic events
- Demonstrate compliance with defined seismic design criteria (e.g., Operating Basis Earthquake (OBE) and Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE))
To meet these federal requirements and ensure operational safety, a major LNG facility partnered with QuakeLogic to design and deploy a free-field seismic monitoring system aligned with FERC expectations.
Client Challenge: Compliance with Federal Safety Standards
The facility required a system capable of:
- Capturing true ground motion (free-field response) independent of structural influence
- Providing reliable operation in extreme Alaskan conditions
- Supporting post-event structural assessment workflows
- Streamlining regulatory reporting and data retention
QuakeLogic Solution: End-to-End Seismic Monitoring System
QuakeLogic delivered a turnkey seismic instrumentation and data management solution, engineered for both regulatory compliance and operational resilience.
1. Free-Field Ground Motion Monitoring
- Deployment of triaxial accelerographs in carefully selected free-field locations
- Sensor placement consistent with geotechnical and seismic siting best practices
- Accurate recording of peak ground acceleration (PGA)
2. Real-Time Event Detection and Alerting
- Continuous monitoring with configurable trigger thresholds
- Immediate alerts upon exceedance of predefined seismic limits
- Integration with facility PLC systems for rapid response
3. Data Acquisition, Storage, and Retrieval
- High-resolution, time-synchronized data acquisition (NTP or GPS-referenced)
- Continuous recording with pre-event and post-event capture buffers
- Secure local and remote data storage in industry-standard formats (e.g., MiniSEED)
4. Automated Compliance and Reporting
- Structured data pipelines for FERC-required recordkeeping
- Rapid generation of event reports for engineering evaluation and regulatory review
- Support for post-earthquake inspection protocols
Key Benefits
- Regulatory Compliance: Fully aligned with FERC LNG seismic monitoring expectations and supports documentation required under federal safety regulations.
- Operational Resilience: Enables rapid post-event decision-making using reliable ground motion data and reduces downtime through informed inspection prioritization.
- High Reliability in Extreme Environments: Ruggedized, low-power instrumentation designed for sub-zero and remote conditions with proven performance in critical infrastructure.
Why This Matters
For LNG operators, seismic monitoring is not optional—it is a regulatory and safety imperative. Accurate free-field data is essential for:
- Verifying design assumptions
- Assessing structural performance after seismic events
- Demonstrating compliance during audits and inspections
QuakeLogic bridges the gap between complex seismic hazards and practical regulatory compliance, delivering systems that are both technically robust and operationally efficient.
Why Quakelogic?
This project highlights QuakeLogic’s capability to deliver full-cycle engineering solutions, including:
- System design and regulatory alignment
- Sensor deployment and commissioning
- Real-time data processing and alerting
- Long-term data management and reporting
Our integrated approach—combining advanced hardware, intelligent software, and domain expertise—ensures precision, reliability, and compliance in the most demanding environments.
Let’s Secure Your Infrastructure
Whether your facility operates in Alaska or any other seismic region, QuakeLogic provides the expertise required to achieve and maintain FERC compliance.
Protect your assets. Ensure compliance. Enhance resilience.
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