World's First Aeroderivative Based LNG Liquefaction Plant - Design, Operational Experience, and Debottlenecking
Cyrus B. Meher-Homji, David Messersmith, Bechtel Corp., Hans P. Weyermann, ConocoPhillips Co., Gary Richardson, Paul Patrick, Darwin LNG, Australia, Fernando Roberto Biagi, and Francesco Gravame, GE Oil and Gas, Florence, Italy

ABSTRACT

The Darwin LNG Facility was the world’s first liquefaction facility to utilize high efficiency aeroderivative gas turbines for its refrigeration compressors. The plant’s design, startup , successful operation for over 4 years its upgrade and debottlenecking are described in this paper. The application of aeroderivative engines allows a significantly lower CO2 footprint of 20- 30% compared to the use of simple cycle industrial (heavy duty) gas turbines. This paper will cover the design of all of the turbomachinery, testing of machinery, startup, operational experiences, and debottlenecking activities in which the engines were upgraded. The Darwin LNG plant was successfully commissioned and the first LNG cargo was shipped on February 14, 2006. Debottlenecking activities were completed in 2010.