Black & Veatch Completes Design-to-Commissioning of LNG Regasification Terminal

In a sign of the project’s significance, in March 2019 India’s Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the Ennore liquefied natural gas (LNG) import, storage and regasification terminal to the nation.

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) is India’s premier public sector enterprise and biggest provider of fuel from crude oil. To meet the growing demand for LNG, IOCL through its joint venture company, Indian Oil LNG Private Limited built and operates an LNG import terminal at Kamarajar Port (formerly known as Ennore Port) in Thiruvallur district on the outskirts of Chennai Tamil Nadu India.

Ennore LNG terminal is the first LNG terminal on the eastern coast of India. As a result, the terminal supports the nationally strategic objective of helping diversify India’s LNG supplier base. India is the world’s fourth-largest LNG importer, hence opening-up new supply routes has significant value.

The terminal has a send-out capacity of 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). IOCL awarded the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract for regasification facilities and utilities at the terminal to a Black & Veatch led consortium.

Creating LNG and power infrastructure

The project encompassed the creation of LNG import, storage, regasification and road tanker loading infrastructure. This required expertise in both LNG handling and regasification systems, as well as designing and building the 27-megawatt captive combined heat and power plant required for the regasification process. The ability to deliver both onshore and marine structures was also vital.

Among the challenges faced was the timely execution of activities with various interfaces with other EPC contractors; and having to deliver large structures, and complex process plant. This required careful sequencing of work and delivery of materials and equipment. It was essential to minimise the project’s impact upon the local environment, local communities, and the operations of the port. Ennore was a significant undertaking on behalf of the project team - comprising engineers from India as well as from Black & Veatch’s Global Headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.

The project was commissioned by thorough and detailed planning of all site activities and the availability and implementation of contingency plans when circumstances required. Success also demanded flexible and intelligent project execution as well as excellent cooperation with the client and project management consultant Woods.

Global expertise delivered locally

Design was undertaken primarily by teams at Black & Veatch’s Mumbai office; but the expertise of oil and gas engineers from across the company’s global workforce was also drawn upon. Construction and commissioning were also a successful blend of Indian professionals, aided by global domain experts.

Natural gas brought into India via the Ennore terminal is supporting and helping stimulate a number of sectors. Companies receiving gas imported via Ennore include Chennai Petroleum Corp, Tamil Nadu Petroproducts and Manali Petrochemicals; as well as Madras Fertilisers. The gas will also fuel IOCL’s industrial customers in Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

For Black & Veatch the project’s value includes helping further establish the company as a proven tier-one global EPCC provider. Building upon the successful Ennore bid Swan LNG Private Limited (a subsidiary of Swan Energy) awarded Black & Veatch the EPC contract to deliver critical elements of India's first floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) LNG import terminal. Scope of work encompassed the jetty topside and onshore LNG facilities for the 5 MMTPA plant at Jafrabad in Gujarat, on India’s west coast. The new FSRU will be moored to a fixed jetty and regasify imported LNG to enable distribution by pipeline and road tanker.

The completion of Ennore confirms Black & Veatch’s ability to execute high quality, large EPCC projects under challenging conditions.