Regional LNG: Santos GLNG brings first gas into LNG plant

By Romel S. Gurky

Santos GLNG has introduced natural gas into its LNG plant on Queensland?s Curtis Island, marking a key step in plant commissioning.

The company said in a statement Monday that the gas brought into the two-train facility will fire the first gas turbine generator to be used for high voltage power generation.

?We?ve completed almost all of the construction required for initial production, and LNG plant commissioning is progressing strongly,? said Santos Vice President Downstream GLNG Rod Duke said in the statement.

A number of plant subsystems have been commissioned so far, including emergency electric power generation, power distribution and switchboards, instrument air, nitrogen, diesel supply, water systems, inlet gas separation and filtration, and the main flare. Commissioning will continue as Santos GLNG approaches first LNG in the second half of this year.

In 2014, Santos GLNG said it made strong progress across its business as follows.
? Drilled 119 wells and achieved better than expected gas flow rates.
? Completed building all major gas field processing facilities.
? Completed its 420-kilometer pipeline, including a 4.3-kilometer undersea pipeline tunnel.
? Installed the last of the 111 modules that make up its two LNG processing trains.
? Hydrotested both of its massive LNG storage tanks.
? Built its 400-metre-long LNG loading jetty.
? Conducted more than 1,700 community and landholder meetings.

?Santos GLNG is over 90 percent complete and on track for first LNG in the second half of 2015,? Duke said.

Santos GLNG is a pioneering joint venture between Santos, PETRONAS, Total and KOGAS to supply liquefied natural gas to global markets.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak