Arup Group, the UK-based global engineering company, has been appointed by a US LNG export project planned for Cameron Parish to advise on the installation of the region’s first modular LNG storage tanks.
The Arup energy unit has been asked by Commonwealth LNG to provide specialist engineering services for the development of the storage tanks at its project site on the West Bank of the Calcasieu Ship Channel at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico.
The innovative design of the modular tanks, an original concept by Arup, allows them to be constructed offsite at a dedicated fabrication yard in parallel with foundation construction at the site itself.
Arup said that this approach significantly reduces onsite labour and shortens completion time by up to one year.
“These benefits result in capital cost savings and overall project risk reduction,” said the engineering firm.
Commonwealth LNG has a schedule to construct its facility in Cameron Parish for exports to begin by 2024.
The plant will have a total liquefaction capacity of 8.4 million tonnes per annum and LNG storage capacity volumes of 240,000 cubic metres.
Arup is also supporting Commonwealth’s permit process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by providing structural, mechanical and naval architecture engineering services in relation to the design of the modular storage tanks.
Once the FERC approves the latest Louisiana venture for LNG exports construction is expected to start in 2021.
“This is a great step for the LNG industry and could lead the way for new mid-scale storage options,” said Brian Raine, head of Arup’s Energy Structures unit.
“The innovative design brings great benefits and we look forward to working with Commonwealth throughout the project to make those benefits a reality,” added Raine.
Rob Powers, Senior Vice President for engineering at Commonwealth LNG, said he was pleased to have Arup on his team.
“Their broad experience, depth of resources, technical creativity and responsiveness to our requests have made them valued partners on our project,” stated Powers.
