Expansion designed to replicate success of first two natural gas liquefaction trains, with technology supplied and maintained by GE (photo: GE Oil & Gas)

GE Oil & Gas has been awarded a contract to supply gas turbine-driven compressors for a third natural gas liquefaction train for the Tangguh expansion having provided the original equipment for Trains 1 and 2 when the plant was first established. The order for the third train equipment has been placed with the GE Oil & Gas local business partner in Indonesia, PT IMECO Inter Sarana.

The Tangguh facility in the Papua Barat Province of Indonesia is being expanded to increase Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) production by a further 3.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), bringing total plant capacity to 11.4 mtpa. Indonesia is one of the leading suppliers of LNG in the region and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Energy consumption grew 3.9% in 2015, having nearly doubled over the last 15 years. The majority of the gas produced by the third liquefaction train will provide energy for the Indonesian domestic market.

“The agreement to provide a third natural gas liquefaction train for Tangguh, nearly 15 years after the agreement to install the first two, is a reflection of the enduring performance of the existing plant machinery supplied by GE Oil & Gas,” says Rod Christie, President & CEO – Turbomachinery Solutions, GE Oil & Gas. “The equipment similarity to the other two LNG trains and the single source of the entire shaft line are key factors that will enable smooth and optimised operation and maintenance of the plant. GE is committed to strengthening our partnership with the plant by bringing technology enhancements and maintaining the highest levels of performance from our equipment.”

The components of the turbo compressor strings supplied by GE Oil & Gas will be manufactured at GE facilities in Greenville, South Carolina, USA and Florence, Italy, where the train will by assembled and load tested. It will be fully digitally-enabled, including advanced sensors and monitoring capabilities to allow continuous equipment care to safely maximise availability. The equipment will be ready for shipment to Indonesia in mid 2018.

The low pressure/medium pressure mixed refrigerant (MR) string will include one horizontally split centrifugal compressor for low-pressure MR and one barrel type centrifugal compressor for medium pressure MR, driven by a GE MS7001EA gas turbine and a helper/starter steam turbine. The propane/high pressure MR string will include one horizontally split centrifugal compressor with side streams for propane and one barrel centrifugal compressor for high pressure MR, driven by a GE MS7001EA gas turbine and a helper/starter steam turbine. GE Oil & Gas will also supply heat recovery steam generator for each of the two strings.

For the installation of the new LNG train, GE Oil & Gas will leverage its local footprint and global engineering capabilities to provide on-site support and develop local talent through training programs. GE Oil & Gas has been operating in Indonesia for over 70 years, providing its technology for many major projects. Today, GE Oil & Gas employs almost 200 employees across 3 sites.

Tangguh is operated by BP on behalf of its partners MI Berau B.V, CNOOC Muturi Ltd., Nippon Oil Exploration (Berau) Ltd., KG Berau Petroleum Ltd., KG Wiriagar Overseas Ltd., Indonesia Natural Gas Resources Muturi Inc., and Talisman Wiriagar Overseas Ltd.

Tags: GE Oil & Gas, PT IMECO Inter Sarana