Siemens Providing BOG Compressor Train

Siemens Energy will provide a cryogenic boil-off gas (BOG) compression train to Nigeria LNG (NLNG) for its Bonny Island plant.

The solution will play a key role in providing additional BOG handling capability and spares for the existing system, the company said. The new BOG compression train will be driven by a high-efficiency electric motor and includes two Siemens Energy centrifugal compressors.

Located in Finima, Nigeria, the Bonny Island plant has been in operation since 1999. Siemens’ partnership with NLNG and the Bonny Island project can be traced back over two decades when the plant was first commissioned.

“With more than 20 years of safe and reliable production, the NLNG Bonny Island plant is a staple facility in the global LNG industry,” said Arja Talakar, senior vice president, Industrial Applications Products for Siemens Energy. “NLNG’s selection of our cryogenic BOG compression technology is a testament not only to the reliability and performance of our existing equipment at the plant but also to our focused service and ability to meet local content requirements through our in-country presence. The new BOG compression train will contribute to NLNG’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a highly sustainable manner.”

The company said the order further establishes Siemens Energy’s leading role in LNG boil-off gas compression. The company has a fleet of cryogenic BOG compressors that have accumulated more than 4.2 million hours in service.

“Because of current restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, all discussions between Siemens Energy and NLNG were conducted remotely via virtual meetings,” said Matthew Russell, head of LNG Industrial Applications Products for Siemens Energy. “In the end, proactive planning, perseverance, and the long-standing relationship between the companies facilitated seamless communication and smooth negotiations virtually.” Manufacturing, testing, and packaging of the compression train will take place in Duisburg, Germany, with a Free on Board delivery slated for the fourth quarter of 2021.

The Bonny Island plant is undergoing expansion to add seventh LNG processing unit and supporting infrastructure to increase its total production capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 30Mtpa.

The LNG facility is owned and operated by Nigeria LNG (NLNG), a joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC, 49%), Shell Gas (25.6%), Total (15%) and Eni (10.4%).

NLNG made a final investment decision (FID) on the expansion project in December 2019 and the seventh liquefaction unit at the site is expected to come on stream in 2024.