【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】864-2023: The world’s first LNG module constructed through integrated building methods has been fully completed and delivered

The Canadian LNG project is a world-class LNG facility jointly invested in and built by the five major international oil companies, including Shell. Phase 1 of the project plans to build 2 production lines, with an annual output of 14 million tons of LNG. Once operational, it will supply high-quality clean energy to countries in Asia such as China, which will help diversify China’s sources of natural gas imports. CNOOC Engineering has been contracted to build 35 modules for the first phase of a LNG project in Canada, including all 19 core process modules. These modules consist of over 770,000 structural components, with a total weight of around 179,000 tons – an amount equivalent to the steel structure weight of nearly 3 of the world’s tallest buildings, such as the Burj Khalifa. The total length of the cables used is 1,270 kilometers, enough to circle Beijing’s Sixth Ring Road almost 7 times. The project introduces globally for the first time a core process module and integrated pipeline trench construction method, which significantly increases the degree of integration in module construction and minimizes on-site installation work. This not only helps to save space at the construction site and thus improve economic efficiency but also offers clear advantages in terms of environmental protection.

Canadian LNG projects feature large scale, heavy module weights, and a high degree of integration; the weight of the largest modules exceeds 8,200 tons, more than the total weight of the steel structure of the Eiffel Tower. These modules incorporate facilities such as pipe galleries, power plants, on-site support rooms, and electrical and instrumentation workspaces, and are equipped with 283 large-scale devices. At peak times, 33 modules are assembled simultaneously, with nearly 8,000 workers involved in the construction process. There are over 130,000 different construction management units involved, which poses severe challenges in terms of project management, construction techniques, large-scale equipment resources, and precision control. Furthermore, as a highly international project, the Canadian LNG project involved 127 suppliers from 12 different countries; the construction process was affected by the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on the timely completion of the project. The Canadian LNG project has pursued comprehensive technological and managerial innovations. It was the first in the world to implement the new NBG (No Backing Gas) welding process on a large-scale engineering scale, and pioneered the combined use of CMS (Construction Management System) and PCMS (Project Management System) for management. In China, it was the first time that 4D visualization technology was applied to the construction of core LNG process modules. More than 10 technical advancements were achieved, including the use of SPMT (Self-Propelled Module Transport) for lifting and assembly, the hoisting of large structures, dual-precision dimension control, centralized cloud-based debugging, and degreasing of process systems. These efforts significantly improved the level of digital visualization in construction as well as project management efficiency. Despite the severe pandemic, all modules were delivered on schedule and to high quality, demonstrating the \"Chinese speed\" to the world. The project aims for \"zero defects\" as its quality goal, and through comprehensive quality management involving all employees and across the entire process, the quality compliance rates meet or exceed the requirements specified in the owner’s specifications. The positioning accuracy of static equipment is 3 millimeters, while the accuracy required for soft-foot testing of dynamic equipment is 0.03 millimeters; thus, the precision control levels are at the world’s advanced stage.

On the afternoon of January 15, 2022, as the large semi-submersible transport vessel FORTE, carrying the A5EA module for Canada’s LNG project, slowly departed from the Qingdao facility dock of CNOOC Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (referred to as “CNOOC Offshore Engineering”), the first core process module of the world’s first LNG plant built using integrated construction methods was successfully sent on its way. It is reported that the total distance of this shipment is approximately 5,170 nautical miles, and it is planned to arrive at the project site in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, by the end of February for on-site installation.

CNOOC Engineering’s modular construction standards are very standardized; SHELL once organized training for us on this topic.

Looking ahead to the 14th Five-Year Plan period, CNOOC Engineering will actively pursue the Belt and Road Initiative, fully implement the Party’s guiding principles, strive to expand into external markets and optimize its international business structure. In line with the trend toward green development, it will make every effort to develop a comprehensive technical framework and service capabilities for the entire green energy industry chain, thereby contributing more Chinese \"high-end manufacturing\" solutions to the global development of green energy industries.