Petronet LNG Ltd has found new ways to enhance the utilisation of the Kochi LNG terminal, in Puthuvype, Kochi, India.
The company recently provided services relating to the gassing up and cooling down of an LNG vessel at the terminal. The services were provided to the Golar Snow vessel, which arrived at the terminal carrying nitrogen. For gas up, the nitrogen is displaced with LNG vapours in a controlled procedure. The vessel tanks are then slowly cooled to -110°C, before LNG is injected. The entire operation was performed in a period of 48 hr.
Petronet also recently provided LNG as a bunker fuel to a small vessel. Due to stringent pollution regulations in its area of operations, the vessel has to run on the cleaner LNG fuel. The Kochi LNG terminal has also been providing services relating to the storage and reload of LNG.
This is the first time in India that such services have been provided, and there are currently very few regasification terminals in the world providing these services. The Kochi LNG terminal, which has been running at a low capacity utilisation due to non-availability of pipeline evacuation network, is looking into providing such value added services.
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward