Venture Global LNG Inc. has completed a successful string test of the first mixed refrigerant compression system for its 10-million tonne/year Calcasieu Pass LNG plant at Baker Hughes’ testing site in Massa, Italy. The string test confirmed the engineering, functionality, and performance of the Calcasieu Pass process system 7 months after the project’s final investment decision (FID).
Calcasieu Pass LNG will use mid-scale, modular liquefaction trains that are factory-fabricated by Baker Hughes in Italy and shipped complete to the Calcasieu Pass site, currently under construction in Cameron Parish, La. Venture Global issued full notice to proceed to Baker Hughes in August 2019 concurrent with the project’s FID.
The string test replicates and simulates site conditions, and every component that will be shipped to and operated at site is commissioned and validated in order to verify whole-system functionality and performance. The test performs a mechanical running assessment and measures equipment vibration and bearing temperatures at full speed and full load. The auxiliary and control systems are also calibrated which minimizes these activities in the field.
Baker Hughes and Venture Global used virtual technology to conduct the test in the face of conditions imposed by COVID-19. Overall, the test involved 21 people in five cities around the world monitoring the test using digital and video remote access, as well as local field technicians for both Baker Hughes and Venture Global directly observing in Massa.
Site construction at Calcasieu Pass LNG and the associated 1.9-bcfd TransCameron pipeline in Cameron Parish, La. has been under way since February 2019 and the project is expected to begin commercial operations in 2022. TransCameron will extend 24 miles of 42-in. OD pipe from east of a TETCO interconnect to the LNG plant (OGJ Online, Aug. 21, 2019).