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The Canatxx LNG ProcessBelow you will find questions and answers relating to the Canatxx LNG process. This will cover the process of delivery by tanker, docking at the single buoy mooring, regasification and distribution to the National Gas Transmission System.
The unique features of this site offer: a very large sea water pumping infrastructure, relatively warm sea water throughout the year, a strong tidal flow, deep water for tanker mooring, sheltered waters, a local port facility and a work force with a range of relevant skills and proven ability. The site was developed as a bromine plant in 1952 by The Associated Ethyl Corporation who later became The Associated Octel Company. It was chosen because of the unique qualities of the coast, 35m deep water, strong tidal flow and Gulf Stream sea temperatures, minimum of 6 degrees C. The Shell Oil Company purchased the undeveloped North East portion of the site from Octel in 1974. They developed an oil terminal capable of discharging 500,000 tonne oil tankers. This site was chosen to avoid the congested waters of Liverpool and the tidal restrictions of the Mersey.
What will the Tankers be like?
Tankers with a maximum capacity of 250,000 cubic meters of LNG and up to 350m in length will dock at a fixed platform between 2.4 and 3.4 km offshore, so as not to impede shipping traffic. LNG is transported as a liquid at minus 160 degrees C and at ambient pressure.
How does the platform work?
The platform is attached to the sea bed. It has a soft quay docking system designed to absorb the wind and wave energy against the tanker. The platform has many safety features. It is located in an exclusion zone which is identified on the Admiralty Chart.
How will the LNG be piped ashore?
The LNG will be pumped ashore at minus 160 degrees C using the ships cargo pumps. It is transported through two sub sea cryogenic pipelines. The pipelines will have a pipe-in-pipe construction and will be trenched and covered.
Onshore the LNG arrives at the main pumps. These are highly specialised cryogenic pumps which are designed for the LNG industry. They are totally contained pumps built to an extremely high standard with a proven safety and reliability record, extending 30 years.
How does the LNG change back into gas (regasification)?
LNG is introduced, in its liquid form, at minus 160 degrees C into the Open Rack Vaporisers (ORV’s). The existing sea water pumping infrastructure will be upgraded to supply the ORV’s. Sea water gravity fed over the ORV system warming the LNG.
LNG enters at the bottom of the vaporiser and rises through vertical finned tubes. The LNG becomes gaseous in the lower third of the tube and leaves the top of the tube at between 1 and 2 degrees C. The gas leaving the vaporiser has increased in volume by 600 times.
Other gasification plants burn gas to heat LNG. This has environmental and cost implications which do not arise with sea water warming. The sea water is discharged at a lower temperature than ambient. Strong tidal flows disperse the cool water outfall rapidly.
Is LNG stored on site?
LNG on site will be kept to the minimum required to maintain cryogenic temperatures between deliveries and to provide an operational buffer when discharging tankers. There will be two tanks capable of storing approximately 7,000 cubic meters of LNG. These will be total containment tanks built to the highest design codes and standards. They will be built into the ground for added safety.
How is the natural gas distributed into the national grid?
From the facility the gas will be transported by a 70 mile long new sub sea pipeline to Knott End on Sea, Lancashire. It will connect into the National Gas Transmission System (NTS) near Nateby, north of Preston, Lancashire.
To contact Canatxx LNG Limited with regard to any of the above points, just complete the form here. To keep up to date with events on Anglesey including the Canatxx LNG application, just complete the simple form below. You will then receive the free Anglesey Today Newsletter.
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