LNG EXPORT PRE-FEED
- Client: GNL Quintero
- Location: Quintero Bay, Chile
BACKGROUND
GNLQ Terminal is a grass-roots LNG receiving terminal located at Quintero Bay, approximately 160 km north-west of Santiago, Chile. LNG Carriers are unloaded at the terminal where the LNG is stored and regasified.
The LNG is unloaded from LNG carriers at the Jetty into two onshore storage tanks. Installed process facilities exist and allow the LNG to be pumped from the storage tanks, vaporised and exported into the existing transmission system through a pipeline. There is also a LNG Road Tanker loading facility at the GNLQ import terminal. Truck loading is continuous on a 24-hour basis with the same interval between each truck loading cycle.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The purpose of the study was to explore the feasibility of using the GNLQ Terminal as an LNG Exporting facility in addition to its normal LNG import processes. In order to explore this, the following assessments needed to be carried out:
- A hydraulic analysis of the existing facilities was completed to determine restrictions to the new design basis.
- An assessment of the impact of increased Boil off Gas (BOG) on the existing BOG Handling system, including holding and unloading compressors.
- An assessment of the potential for equipment damage due to over pressure from liquid surge.
These assessments provided the basis for determining the extent of the facilities modifications as well as the jetty modifications to allow smaller LNG Carriers down to 20,000m3 to berth.
The extent of the modifications allowed a factored cost estimate to be included into a mathematical model. This was used to determine the economic viability, taking into account process capacity data, jetty availability rates and economic factors, such as LNG import price, export income and sales gas income.
KEY ASPECTS OF DELIVERY
- Process Hydraulic Analysis using UniSim Design R400 and the PipeSys Extension.
- BOG Handling: Determination
- Pipeline Surge Analysis
- Jetty Modifications Assessment: The modifications required to allow smaller LNG Carriers down to 20,000m3 to berth at the Jetty was required.
- Mathematical Economic Model
- Cost Analysis
CLEVER THINKING
The impact of the of the export option on the existing operation needed careful consideration to maintain the existing import and regasification capacity. This required clever use of the tank storage system and additional pumps and pipework to feed two different flows and pressure requirements.
BENEFITS TO CLIENT
- A robust technical analysis of the required modifications
- Cost information to support the investment decision.
Gallery
