RII-1502, AL AHMADI NATURAL GAS PLANT

File: 961031_950825_039pgv_91d.txt
Page: 91d
Total Pages: 1
RII-1502, AL AHMADI NATURAL GAS PLANT

Filename:039pgv.91d
SUBJECT:  RII-1502, AL AHMADI NATURAL GAS PLANT


1.  PURPOSE:  RESPONE TO ITF TASKER 3388

2.  [    b.2.    ]


3.  A.  CURRENTLY, THE AL AHMADI NATURAL GAS AND LPG PLANT [   
(b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4)   ] IS NOT BEING OPERATED TO PROCESS GAS AND 
PRODUCE LPG.  THE PROCESSING UNITS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN PURGED 
WITH NITROGEN GAS, WHICH IS ANINERT GAS.  THIS PURGING, HOWEVER, 
DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS IN THE 
EVENT UNITS ARE STRUCK WITH MUNITIONS.  A FAR GTREATER DANGER 
EXISTS WITH REGARD TO THE FACILITY'S 13 LPG  STORAGE TANKS.  THESE 
TANKS ARE EITHER EMPTY OR PARTIALLY FULL.  THE BEST INFORMATION 
AVAILABLE INDICATES THERE MAY BE AS MUCH AS 100,00 BARRELS OF 
BUTANE AND 60,000 BARRELS OF PROPANE REMAINING WITHIN THESE TANKS. 
 VOIDS IN THE TANKS ARE FILLED WITH NITROGEN.  RESEARCH, HOWEVER, 
INDICATES THAT THE NITROGEN GAS USED TO FILL VOIDS IN LPG TANKS 
WOULD HAVE LITTLE VALUE IN PREVENTING SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS IF THE 
TANKS ARE PENETRATED BY WEAPONS.  FURTHERMORE, A TANK EMPTY OR 
PARTIALLY FILLED WITH LPG IS POTENTIALLY MORE EXPLOSIVE THAN A 
FILLED TANK.  IMPORTANTLY, TAKING CONTROL OF THE PLANT OR 
DESTROYING PLANT MACHINERY, WILL NOT ELIMINATE THIS HAZARD.

3.B  THERE ARE NO REPORTS THAT THE PLANT HAS BEEN RIGGED FOR 
DEMOLOTION.,

3.C.  AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF IRAQIS AND KUWAITIS ARE REPORTEDLY 
WORKING IN THE PLANT.  THEY ARE LIKELY MONITORING THE STATUS OF 
THE STORAGE TANKS AND OPERATING THE FACILITY'S STEAM PLANT.  THE 
STEAM PLANT SERVES AS THE ADJACENT AL AHMAKI REFINERY [   (b)(1) 
sec 1.3(a)(4)   ] WHICH HAS BEEN IN PARTIAL OPERATION SINCE LATE 
NOVEMBER.

3.D.  NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON SECURITY AT 
THE LPG PLANT.

3.E.  ANSWERED IN 3.A.

[   (b)(6)   ]