The сompany evaluated the scope of work in advance and thoroughly assessed all potential risks focusing on safety. After assurance that all production facilities and divisions engaged in the shutdown were ready, started to implement planned activities.
They will be carried out at Lunskoye-A (LUN-A) offshore platform, onshore processing facility (OPF), OPF compression station (OPFC) site, booster station 2 (BS2) and Prigorodnoye production complex which includes LNG plant. Works will be completed in August 2021.
Roman Dashkov, Chief Executive Officer of Sakhalin Energy noted that during the planned shutdown, overhaul and upgrade of the integrated gas chain key manufacturing equipment will be completed. It will ensure stable and reliable operation of production facilities in the future and allow to avoid technical preventive maintenance activities in 2022.
“The maximum efficient use of available resources and capabilities by Sakhalin Energy creates the basis for further improvement of production performance, leads to a rise in tax deductions and increases the revenues in the budget of Russia. Under the conditions when the Russian economy is getting out of crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic such a responsible business position is becoming especially relevant” − Roman Dashkov said.
During the shutdown, for the first time in Russia, two of the four LNG loading arms will be replaced at the LNG jetty of Prigorodnoye production complex. Each LNG loading arm weighs 77 tonnes. Also, as part of the LNG train 2 equipment upgrade the overhaul of the Sakhalin-2 project heaviest compressor will be carried out. Only its internal elements weigh about 120 tonnes.
In addition, flare tips are planned to be replaced at the plant by involving large-scale lifting operations. The same work will take place at another key production facility − the onshore processing facility. The essential activities related to integration of the compression station which is under construction with the OPF will be carried out to ensure a smooth transition to the commissioning stage in the future.
The repair of the export valve with installation of the so-called “smart plug” will be one of the critical activities to take place on LUN-A platform. It will become an essential part of the asset’s safety system to allow isolation of necessary gas line sections remotely using control sensors.
Some operations will be performed by the company using remote video support technology. This will allow performing complex repair operations by involving foreign OEMs online. This approach has been first successfully used by Sakhalin Energy at the LNG plant last year. This year, such a network is planned to be widely deployed at the OPF, which will help to mitigate the impact and restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the planned shutdown, staff mobilisation will take place while ensuring compliance with all epidemiological protection measures. More than 2,500 external technical specialists will be involved to work at the production facilities.
2021 LNG and oil shipment schedule is aligned with the upcoming major turnaround.