Innovative requirements for metallic materials in the LNG business

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Innovative requirements for metallic materials in the LNG business - user's perspective

Knowles, David M. / Sabry, Houssam

Gas plants producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) although less complex than many process plants, such as refineries, are still subject to a number of degradation phenomenon and utilized large quantities of specialist metallic materials and stainless steels. The main challenges from a materials perspective are associate with processing of contaminated gas (primarily containing contaminants of hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, mercury and water) and the ability of the material to function at cryogenic temperatures (down to -161 deg C) whilst ensuring integrity. As continual demands are placed on the need for an increase in LNG plant capacities, combined with higher-pressure gas systems and new liquefaction technologies, limitations with current materials have been highlighted. These are primarily associated with strength, applicability in more contaminated gas systems, availability and rising cost. The market for niche materials is still evident, for example in low thermal expansion materials, but the benefits afforded are often offset by the increase in commodity costs. The challenge for the industry as a whole is to identify and qualify alternative materials which will address the identified needs such that they can be made available to projects in a timely manner, potentially reducing current lead times to acceptable levels in line with final investment decisiens and time to first cargo.