LNG Terminal – Features and Terminal Operations

Technical Features

Spread over an area of 46.7 hectares, the terminal has a jetty where LNG cargo is unloaded through to the cryogenic tanks. LNG is stored in the tanks at -160 C and pumped out of the tank for sending out to customers after regasification.

The Main components of the terminal are LNG jetty with cryogenic unloading arms, cryogenic tanks to store LNG at -160C, LNG pumps to boost pressure to 80-100 barg, LNG vaporisers and send-out pipeline. The send-out pipeline carries the gas to the delivery point which is located 12.5 kms from the terminal.

LNG Jetty

The LNG jetty has 3 unloading arms, 2 for liquid and 1 for vapour. Unloading of LNG can be done at a maximum rate of 11000 M3/Hour. The jetty has state of art Emergency Shutdown System and safety equipment to avoid & control spills and leaks of LNG. The LNG unloaded is carried in cold condition by an unloading line to the LNG tanks.

LNG storage tanks

The terminal has two LNG tanks with a capacity of 160000 M3 each. These tanks have pre-stressed concrete outer and 9% Nickel steel inner tank to hold the LNG at -160 °C. LNG is stored in the tanks at atmospheric pressure. Cold insulation is provided between the outer and inner tanks to minimise heat ingress to the tank. This would ensure that LNG can be stored in the tanks at low temperature with minimum vaporisation of LNG. The tanks are provided with protection against high pressure to avoid any damage and with robust controls to keep the pressure within limits.

LNG cryogenic pumps are installed inside the tanks, which pump out LNG from the tanks at intermediate pressure. The LNG pressure is finally boosted to 110 barg with the help of multi-stage cryogenic pumps before being sent to the regasification section.

LNG Vaporisers

LNG is re-gasified in Open Rack Vaporisers, using sea water as the heating medium. These vaporisers are designed to handle LNG at -160 °C and have been provided with instrumented protections to avoid any damage.

The terminal also has a Submerged Combustion Vaporiser which uses fuel gas as the source of heat. In these vaporisers, heat generated by burning fuel gas is used to warm the water which in turn vaporizes LNG.

Regasification Process

Spread over an area of 46.7 hectares, the terminal has a jetty where LNG cargo is unloaded through cryogenic unloading arms and sent to the LNG tanks for storage via unloading line. Each tank contains In-tank pumps which transfer the LNG to recondenser.

LNG from the recondenser is sent to the cryogenic LNG booster pumps, which pressurise the LNG from 8 barg to 110 barg. The pressurised LNG is then sent for re-gasification to the LNG vaporisers i.e., ORV (open rack vaporiser) or SCV (submersed combustion vaporiser).

A 13.9 Km, 28-inch pipeline transports this high-pressure gas to the Metering Stations (HMMS and Mora) where the custody transfer takes place.

The metering stations are interconnected to GAIL, GSPL and RGTIL pipelines at Mora.

Connectivity to Major Gas Pipeline Networks

A 13.9 Km, 28 inch pipeline transports high pressure gas to the Hazira Mora Metering Station (HMMS) and Mora Metering Station(GSPL) where the custody transfer takes place. A fibre optic cable laid along the pipeline connects the pipeline controls to the terminal control room which enables the operation of the Metering Station. The pipeline and the metering station are equipped with various protection systems to avoid & minimise any gas leak. A close watch is kept on the pipeline because of its high importance. An emergency procedure is in place to minimise the effect of any gas leak at any location. All the systems are regularly checked for performance to ensure they work when required.

Our LNG terminal is situated in the middle of one of the most industrialized areas in the country and has a ready market for gas in the immediate vicinity. Strategically located, Shell LNG Terminal is connected to three major Gas pipeline networks operated by GAIL, GSPL and PIPL.