Due to increasing energy demand and need for clean energy, Kuwait embarked on constructing one of the world's largest LNG storage & regasification projects. Different forms of Glass Fiber Reinforced composite piping and tanks were used in the construction of the LNGI facility. These include Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) for all underground firewater network and Glass fiber Reinforced Vinyl ester GRV for chemical storage tanks and process lines such as seawater and chemical dosing lines.
Throughout the construction phase of the project many issues were faced pertaining to poor lamination work at site, poor storage and handling practices, defective original material as well as revised vendor installation procedures. These incidents were resolved through rigorous field testing and vendor visits to approve new revised procedures, in addition to design modifications to mitigate stress on the subject lines.
This paper, presents the isolated and common cases of failure, recounting the troubleshooting practices followed and the verified remedial actions. Much of these cases, lessons learned, and quality control measures provide valuable tools to users of this type of piping material in the oil & gas industry.
This paper also sheds lights on the shortcomings of RTRP, that are usually trumped by operational benefits.
The LNGI facility in Kuwait represents a movement towards sustainable clean energy. The purpose of the facility is to import liquified natural gas to be stored and subsequently vaporized to its gaseous form to be distributed to end users. End users include refineries and electricity power plants. The facility is also capable of exporting excess liquified natural gas. The construction of this facility included the adoption of the latest techniques and materials known to the oil & gas industry. As part of this approach a decision was made to migrate from traditional piping materials to glass Fiber Reinforced composites for their advancements in corrosion resistance and minimal maintenance.
For this reason, RTRP was used in the construction of the underground firefighting network, utility water network, sea water process pipes, desalinated water, fresh water and accidental oil contaminated sewer. In addition, it was also used in the construction of chemical dosing lines such as sodium hypochlorite. In addition to piping, the subject material was also used in the construction of several chemical storage tanks.
