Angola LNG is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction plant in Soyo, Angola. The first such facility in Angola, it has produced gas since 2013. It cost $12 billion to construct. It has a capacity of 5.2 million tonnes per year, and serves both the domestic and export markets. It is owned and operated by Angola LNG Limited, a partnership of energy companies including Chevron Corporation, Sonangol Group, and TotalEnergies.
Technical features
editThe Angola LNG plant is a single train facility with production capacity of 5.2 million tonnes per year. The plant uses ConocoPhillips' proprietary natural gas liquefaction technology (Optimized CascadeSM Process).[1] In addition to LNG, it also produces propane, butane and natural-gas condensate.
The plant is supplied from offshore gas fields on blocks 14, 15, 17 and 18, and from non-associated gas fields Quiluma, Atum, Polvo and Enguia.[2] It was built to reduce gas flaring and associated pollution by collecting waste gas from Angola's offshore oil fields, and to allow the operators of the offshore oil fields to use what would otherwise be wasted.[3]
The plant was constructed by Bechtel.[1] It cost US$12 billion[4] and was commissioned in 2013. The first LNG was shipped on 16 June 2013, delayed from the initial 2012 target.[3]
Company
editThis section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (November 2024) |
The project was proposed to Sonangol by Texaco in June 1997. The project, jointly managed by woAh and Texaco, continued evaluation processes and brought in outside partners (originally ExxonMobil, Elf Aquitaine, and BP.) Subsequently Texaco merged with Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil was replaced in the project by Eni, and Elf Aquitaine merged with Total.
Angola LNG was formed as a joint project in 2008 involving Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (36.4%), Sonangol (22.8%), BP (13.6%), Eni (13.6%) and Total (13.6%). These shareholders provide gas from their respective offshore oil fields.[5]
Challenges
editWhile the plant, Angola's first, was initially expected to export gas in the first quarter of 2012[6], it experienced delays reportedly caused by fires, pipeline collapses, and a lack of skilled workers.[3] These issues caused it to produce first gas 18 months later than expected, in June 2013. It also cost more than expected to build the plant, with the initial predicted cost of $4 billion growing to $8 billion by July 2009[6] and reaching $10 billion by 2013.[3] As of 2024, the total cost to date is $12 billion.[4]
On 10 April 2014, an incident at the plant resulted in release of hydrocarbon vapour into the atmosphere.[7] In May 2014, the plant was shut down and maintenance was performed by Bechtel. The plant had resumed production by June 2016.[8]
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b "Angola LNG to Deploy ConocoPhillips Liquefaction Tech". Downstream Today. 2008-02-01. Archived from the original on 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ^ "Angola LNG Project is Approved". Angola LNG. 2007-12-10. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ a b c d McClelland, Colin; Carroll, Joe (2013-06-16). "Chevron's $10 Billion Angola LNG Ships First Gas Cargo". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ^ a b "Angola LNG considers expansion as gas supplies ramp up". Reuters. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Angola: Green Light for New $4B LNG Plant". Downstream Today. 2008-02-13. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ^ a b "Angola LNG on track for 2012 flow". Upstream Online. NHST Media Group. 2009-07-20. Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ "Angola LNG confirms plant incident". LNG Industry. 2014-05-19. Archived from the original on 2015-07-07. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Angola LNG resumes production after planned shutdown" (Press release). Angola LNG. 2016-10-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2024-11-23.