LNG

China National Offshore Oil Corp. said it completed the concrete castings for the foundations of six of the world's largest LNG storage tanks being constructed for the Yancheng-Binhai Port terminal in China's eastern Jiangsu Province.

CNOOC said the six storage tanks, each with 270,000 cubic metres capacity, have been designed and developed in China.

Upon completion, each of six new storage tank will be 60 metres high and with each having a diameter of 100.6 metres and with a total casting volume of 70,860 cubic metres.

The Yancheng-Binhai terminal first phase involves the construction of 10 large-scale LNG storage tanks, including four already built and which are smaller with 220,000 cubic metres capacity.

Ren Jianxun, deputy manager of the project, was cited by CNOOC as saying that low winter temperatures presented a problem in trying to avoid cracks in the massive volumes of concrete being used.

“We decided to adjust the concrete pouring area to be symmetrical scattered by 45 degrees, thus reducing the length of construction joints, effectively preventing cracks and improving construction quality,” explained Ren.

CNOOC said that the cost of the six largest tanks was around 6 billion yuan ($950 million) and the Binhai venture would have two gas-fired power plants adjacent.

The first phase is scheduled to come on line by the end of 2023 with the 10 tanks operating.

Jiangsu's Yancheng-Binhai terminal will have an annual LNG regasification capacity of an initial 6 million tonnes per annum, though will also have the largest LNG storage base in China with the 10 tanks.

Further expansion

CNOOC has described the Binhai project as an important asset in the industrial upgrade of the Yangtze River Economic Zone.

For the next stage of the project, CNOOC said it would likely add a further 10 storage tanks, each of 270,000 cubic metres of capacity, to give an open-ended capability.

CNOOC has the largest regasification capacity of the Chinese majors with a presence in eight of the existing 22 import terminals, even after state-backed PipeChina bought and opened up several CNOOC-owned terminals to third-party access.

A second large LNG import terminal with mega-storage, the Tianjin Port Nangang project in northeast China, is also under development.

The leading Chinese LNG importer, China National Offshore Oil Corp., has expanded the planned storage capacity from six tanks to 10 tanks for the Yancheng-Binhai Port import terminal now under construction in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

CNOOC said that the cost of the first six tanks would be around 6.1 billion yuan ($953 million) and the Binhai venture would have two gas-fired power plants adjacent.

Phase one will have an annual receiving capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum and will be completed by 2022, including the first four 220,000 cubic metres full containment LNG tanks.

The Binhai facility includes one jetty to accommodate the largest carriers such as the Qatari Q-Max vessels at 266,000 cubic metres capacity.

Four more 220,000 cubic metres LNG tanks will then be built followed by the final two. The Binhai terminal will transfer natural gas to Jiangsu to increase gas availability for refining, industry and gas-fired power.

The full project is scheduled to come on line by the end of 2023 with the 10 tanks operating, including six ultra-large tanks, each with a total volume of 270,000 cubic metres.

“The Binhai LNG terminal in Jiangsu will have an annual LNG regasification capacity of 6 million tonnes a year, though will also have the largest LNG storage base in China with the 10 tanks,” explained Beijing-based CNOOC.

“The terminal’s construction will play a key role in the country’s natural gas supply, storage and gas marketing system,” stated CNOOC.

The company added that the Binhai LNG terminal project would also be an important asset in the industrial upgrade of the Yangtze River Economic Zone.

CNOOC has the largest regasification capacity of the Chinese majors with a presence in eight of the existing 22 import terminals, even after state-backed PipeChina bought and opened up several CNOOC-owned terminals to third-party access.

CNOOC also reportedly purchased almost a dozen additional LNG cargoes for delivery between July 2021 and March 2022 as demand in southern China is expected to remain strong as well as in the north and eastern industrial belt.

A second large LNG import terminal with mega-storage is also under development, the Tianjin Port Nangang project in northeast China.

First of all two tanks are being built followed by the second and third phases which will include building six additional storage tanks, each of 220,000 cubic metres capacity.

Gaztransport and Technigaz, the French technology and engineering company for LNG storage, has designing the tanks for the expanding Chinese import network and its accompanying system of gas-fired power plants and gas grid transmission lines.


The Tianjin Nangang terminal is being developed by the Beijing Gas Group and will be the third serving the northeast Chinese port supplying the gas needs of Beijing.

The existing facilities currently include the Tianjin North onshore terminal operated by China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) and a separate floating terminal provided at peak times by Höegh LNG Holdings in the form of a floating storage and regasification unit on long-term charter to CNOOC.