Naser Badry - Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Farshad Nourai - Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Davod Rashtchian - Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

This study considers the application of quantitative risk assessment (QRA) on the siting of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and determining nearby land use limitations. In such cases the most important consideration is to be assured that the proposed site would not be incompatible with existing land uses in the vicinity. It is possible by the categorization of the estimated levels of individual risk (IR) which the proposed site would impose upon them. An analysis of the consequences and likelihood of credible accident scenarios coupled with acceptable risk criteria is then undertaken. This enables the IR aspects of the proposed site to be considered at an early stage to allow prompt responses or in the later stages to observe limitations. According to the results in many cases not only required distances have not been provided but also CNG stations are commonly located in vicinity of populated areas to facilitate refueling operations. This is chiefly because of inadequate risk assessment studies and ambiguities to define acceptable risk criteria.

Quantitative risk assessment; Consequence analysis; Siting; CNG station