In one of the world’s remotest and harshest environments, the Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) installation has just begun production. Situated in Russia’s Siberia region, Yamal will supply LNG to Asia and Europe. The modules which comprise the plant make use of Solano® – an organic coated steel from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products which is specifically designed for use in harsh and corrosive environments.
The Yamal LNG project, based above the Arctic Circle, is one of the most ambitious in the world. Using hydrocarbon resources from the South Tambey field, Yamal will produce up to 16.5 million tonnes (Mt) of LNG annually.
The infrastructure for the project includes three liquefaction ‘trains’ – each with a capacity to produce 5.5 Mt of LNG annually. The modules which make up the trains are as big as a six-storey apartment building. They were pre-fabricated at five shipyards in Asia and then shipped to the site on the Yamal Peninsula as complete modules.
Profiles ready for shipping to the construction site in Asia from Van Dam in the Netherlands
Construction of the first liquefaction train began in Asia during 2015. ArcelorMittal partner Van Dam was awarded the contract to supply 50,000 square metres (m2) of its Generation III-F® bolted wall cladding system for the modules. More than 28,000 m2 of panels were supplied by Van Dam for the second train during 2016.
The Generation III-F® system consists of separate box profiles for the interior and exterior faces of the panels. Before being joined, they are lined with several types of insulation blanket for additional fire resistance.
“Van Dam advised the client to use Solano® for the outer and inner skins of the panels,” notes Leo Assenberg van Eijsden, project manager for Van Dam. “We have been using Solano® for more than 30 years and our engineering department has practical and long-term experience with its use, particularly in the offshore petrochemical industry. It offers excellent corrosion resistance and durability, even in the harsh Arctic environment where Yamal is located.”
Modules were completed at shipyards in China and Singapore
The contract for the Yamal project specified that the panels had to cope with temperature variations from -40 to +40°C. “With its 200 μm thick coating, Solano® is particularly suited to northern European and harsh climatic environments such as the Arctic,” explains Coen van Gorp, key account manager for ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.
“Solano® enabled us to meet Yamal’s requirements for fire resistance and gas tightness,” says Leo Assenberg van Eijsden.
Van Dam’s Generation III-F® panels were finished in three exterior colours: RAL 9010 (white), RAL 5021 (blue), and RAL 2008 (orange). The interior side was finished in a 100 μm thick coating of RAL 9010.
When complete, the modules are as high as a six-storey building
Completed modules were loaded onto ships for the journey to the Arctic Circle
With such a huge and truly global project, there were many complications for Van Dam: “There were changes in colour combinations as well as the normal order modifications you expect on a project of this size,” notes Leo Assenberg van Eijsden. “Logistically, one of the biggest challenges was that construction of the modules continued in China over European holiday periods such as Christmas. We needed to keep delivering panels throughout to keep up with the demand.”
Some of these complications flowed on to the ArcelorMittal Gent mill where the Solano® for Yamal was produced, as Coen van Gorp explains: “The change in colour combinations meant that Van Dam had to adjust their orders frequently to ensure they had the right colours in stock. This caused us some logistical issues, but nothing that the ArcelorMittal team could not deal with. Importantly, there was never a quality issue with the Solano® produced for Yamal.”
In addition to Solano®, ArcelorMittal also supplied beams and sheet piles for the construction of the Yamal base in the Arctic. The beams were needed to build supporting structures for the gas liquefaction and purification facilities, as well as halls and auxiliary buildings for equipment. ArcelorMittal sheet piles were used to construct the port of Sabetta which services the Yamal plant. “ArcelorMittal has one of the most diverse product ranges of any steel supplier in the world, enabling us to supply all the steel needs for major infrastructure projects such as Yamal,” notes Coen van Gorp.
For more information visit europe.arcelormittal.com
Van Dam is a leading manufacturer of fire- and blast-protection systems for oil and gas installations, offshore turbines, infrastructure, and defence. The company offers a range of solutions for doors, windows, and wall systems. Formed in 1906, Van Dam became a part of Groupe Gorgé in 2013.
More info: https://van-dam.nl/
Van Dam's company video
Yamal LNG is one of the world’s largest modular LNG facilities and is a joint venture between NOVATEK (50.1%), Total (20%), CNPC (20%), and the Silk Road Fund (9.9%). As well as the Yamal LNG facility, the project includes the construction of a sea port and airport.
On 29 November 2017, Yamal LNG was granted permission to commission the first of its three liquefaction trains. Production of LNG began immediately with the first shipment of gas leaving Yamal on 8 December. Trains 2 and 3 are expected to come onstream in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Train 1 will use gas from 58 wells in the South Tambey Field.
More info: http://www.yamallng.ru/en/
Copyright images: Van Dam
