The 2000th standard LNG cargo produced since the start-up of the first Russian LNG plant in 2009 was shipped to the Energy Advance gas carrier at the Prigorodnoye port.
Roman Dashkov, Chief Executive Officer of Sakhalin Energy noted that this result unprecedented in the history of Russian LNG production has been achieved due to a long-term uninterrupted operation of the entire gas chain of the Sakhalin-2 project and well-coordinated efforts of the international team of professionals.
Roman Dashkov noted that under the influence of external unfavourable factors during the pandemic Sakhalin Energy had to completely restructure the staff management activities in the company in the shortest time possible while simultaneously interfacing with the supervisory authorities. At the same time no mistakes were admitted that would lead to suspended production. Sakhalin Energy successfully completed all planned activities and even expanded the geography of supplies − for the first time in 2020, the Sakhalin LNG cargo was delivered to Singapore.
The buyer of the anniversary LNG cargo was the Japanese company Tokyo Gas which in 2009 together with another Japanese company − Tokyo Electric purchased the first LNG cargo from the Prigorodnoye asset where the Sakhalin-2 project LNG plant is located. Japan is one of the key buyers of the Sakhalin LNG. Based on data as of the end of 2020, the largest volume of LNG was shipped to Japan from the Prigorodnoye port − 51.6%. The second place − Taiwan (17.4%), the third − South Korea (16.3%) and the fourth − China (14.1%).
Since the start-up of the LNG plant Sakhalin Energy produced and shipped about 130 million tonnes of LNG at the Prigorodnoye asset as of early May 2021. LNG is transported by specialised ice-class LNG carriers chartered on a long-term basis. One standard LNG cargo is 65 000 tonnes.
Now Sakhalin Energy has begun its annual preventive maintenance campaign at PA-B, the largest oil and gas production platform of the Sakhalin-2 project. The campaign starts on 1 June and be completed before the end of the month. The operational efficiency of the asset and the entire сompany will hinge largely on the performance of the agreed scope of activities.
At the platform, it is intended to perform an annual purging of the hydrocarbon multiphase flow separation vessels, a repair of the produced water filters, maintenance of two gas compressors, including a gearbox inspection at one of them, and a number of other maintenance tasks.
“Sakhalin Energy conducts its annual turnarounds to carry out preventive and routine maintenance, repairs, and upgrades of equipment along with some unique, technically challenging operations. In 2021, the PA-B platform will be the first to implement those activities among the Sakhalin-2 production assets. Directly after their completion, the company will proceed with the scheduled shutdown of the facilities in the integrated gas chain, the LUN-A platform being one of them. The operation of PA-B, a platform that produces oil, will then be resumed. Such a sequence is among the optimal ones in terms of maintaining the project’s uninterrupted operations,” says Marat Rezyapov, the company’s Offshore Assets Manager.
About 250 persons will take part in the major turnaround activities. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is paying special attention to the precautions aiming to prevent the spread of the infection.
“While keeping on track with the schedule is a key factor, safe working practices and zero harm to the environment are essential to successful delivery. Strictly monitoring HSE-related issues is our constant priority,” summarises Andrey Klimov, the PA-B Offshore Installation Manager.