Cold Climate LNG Plant Technology
The design and construction of LNG plants in geographically isolated regions with cold climates offers unique challenges that must be addressed if the vast reserves of oil and natural gas beneath perma-frost (permanently frozen ground) are to be exploited.
Chiyoda’s success in the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of Russia’s first LNG liquefaction plant on Sakhalin Island demonstrated that monetizing natural gas through LNG technology is commercially viable in cold climates. The Sakhalin LNG project extracts natural gas from reserves off Sakhalin Island, north of Hokkaido, Japan. Although cold ambient temperatures can improve liquefaction efficiency through lower feed gas and cooling water temperatures, arctic regions have the added challenge of wide variations in seasonal temperatures and Chiyoda adopted a unique liquefaction process for the first time in the world on the Sakhalin LNG project.
The maximum summer ambient temperature on Sakhalin Island reaches 30℃, while the minimum ambient winter temperature drops to minus 30℃, requiring the implementation of cold temperature design and construction methodologies such as heat tracing.
Through innovative and creative design and construction techniques, Chiyoda safely delivered the Sakhalin LNG project, completing with no Lost Time Injury (LTI) and without any environmental incidents, minimizing environmental loading during construction. The plant has a production capacity of 9.6mtpa and, through a combination of Russian resources and Japanese technology, is recognized as a model for similar cold climate LNG project initiatives towards securing a stable energy supply. In March 2009, the project received the ‘Japan Project International Award’ from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Recognizing the success of the Sakhalin LNG Project in the extreme cold environment, Chiyoda was invited to participate in the Yamal LNG project in Sabetta, to the north-east of the Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, Russia. The large-scale project, completed in 2018, includes LNG production facilities, utilities and storage & loading facilities, with an annual capacity of 16.5 million tons (5.5 million tons x 3 trains). At minus 50℃, the minimum winter temperature in the region, known as ‘The End of the Earth’ by local inhabitants, is lower than Sakhalin Island, with more sever environmental conditions where the average ambient temperature is positive for only two to three months of the year. A modular construction methodology was adopted for the project and Yamal LNG became the world’s largest modular project, with over 140 mega-size modules fabricated in locations across Asia for transportation to site during the summer months along the Northern Sea Route through the Bering Strait. Construction was executed 24/7 in two shifts throughout the year and, despite the natural environment and technical challenges, the project was successfully completed more than one year ahead of schedule.
Capabilities
- Installation of heat tracing on rotating equipment and along piping in enclosed and air-conditioned areas to prevent freezing.
- Air-cooled heat exchangers are designed to prevent excessive cooling during the winter season.
- Low temperature resistant materials used for piping and structures.
Applicable Range
Cold climate design and construction techniques can be applied for plants constructed in high latitudes such as the Arctic Circle, Canada and Russia.