Offshore LNG Terminal Uses Foamglas Insulation
Pittsburgh Corning's Foamglas cellular glass insulation is providing long-lasting insulation performance and safety for the Adriatic liquefied natural gas offshore terminal in the Gulf of Venice. The terminal is located 15km offshore near Rovigo, Italy, at the southern end of the Gulf of Venice, in the northern Adriatic. Overall, the offshore terminal is designed around a large concrete structure, which houses two liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks, and includes a re-gasification plant and facilities for mooring and unloading LNG vessels.
At the heart of the terminal are two tanks, each holding 250,000m3 of liquefied gas and sitting on a base of 0.3m-thick Foamglas HLB insulation. When completed, the tanks were floated to Italy and sunk onto the sea bed at the terminal location. A 30in-diameter pipeline transports gas from the terminal 15km offshore, then through another 25km onshore, to the metering station near Cavarzere, in the province of Venice. The Adriatic LNG project has been developed with safety and longevity as priorities. Foamglas is said to offer good fire protection for pipework and vessels, even without the application of traditional fire protection products.
In case of a hydrocarbon fire, there is protection for the pipework and equipment as well as for personnel, as Foamglas will not produce dangerous smoke. All LNG process pipework up to 42in diameter plus condenser/vessels and pumps were insulated with Foamglas insulation in two or three layers (in accordance with the Exxonmobil Specification). All Foamglas elements, consisting of straight pipe shells, segments, and flange insulation, were delivered prefabricated to save time on site. The outer layer joints were sealed with Pittseal 444 mastic and then a Butyl Foil vapour barrier was applied, before an outer jacket of fibreglass or stainless steel.
At the heart of the terminal are two tanks, each holding 250,000m3 of liquefied gas and sitting on a base of 0.3m-thick Foamglas HLB insulation. When completed, the tanks were floated to Italy and sunk onto the sea bed at the terminal location. A 30in-diameter pipeline transports gas from the terminal 15km offshore, then through another 25km onshore, to the metering station near Cavarzere, in the province of Venice. The Adriatic LNG project has been developed with safety and longevity as priorities. Foamglas is said to offer good fire protection for pipework and vessels, even without the application of traditional fire protection products.
In case of a hydrocarbon fire, there is protection for the pipework and equipment as well as for personnel, as Foamglas will not produce dangerous smoke. All LNG process pipework up to 42in diameter plus condenser/vessels and pumps were insulated with Foamglas insulation in two or three layers (in accordance with the Exxonmobil Specification). All Foamglas elements, consisting of straight pipe shells, segments, and flange insulation, were delivered prefabricated to save time on site. The outer layer joints were sealed with Pittseal 444 mastic and then a Butyl Foil vapour barrier was applied, before an outer jacket of fibreglass or stainless steel.
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