Equinor has extended the estimated start-up of the Hammerfest LNG plant on Melkoya Island in northern Norway. The plant has been closed since a Sept. 28, 2020 fire on the air intake of one of its five gas turbines (OGJ Online, Sept. 28, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020).
Based on extensive analyses and mapping of damages, and due to the work scope and COVID-19 restrictions, the revised estimated start-up date is Mar. 31, 2022 (OGJ Online, Oct. 26, 2020).
More than 70,000 unique equipment components were potentially exposed to seawater during the firefighting. The components have been systematically checked, and a repair plan has been prepared.
The most time-consuming activity appears to be replacement of more than 180 km of electric cables connected to the power station where the fire occurred, Equinor said. Ordered cables are expected to arrive this spring/summer.
Other components are being procured for delivery in this year’s summer/autumn timeframe. Several components, including compressors, must also be removed and sent to the supplier for repair.
Equinor’s internal investigation of the fire is still being conducted.