The liquefied natural gas (LNG) system at emerging helium and natural gas producer Renergen’s Virginia gas plant in South Africa’s Free State is complete, with preliminary performance data indicating that LNG ” exceeds design specifications.”
On-site storage tanks and virtual pipeline tankers are full, the company reports, adding that Ceramic Industries’ on-site facility is complete and operational, while the Consol site is now cooled with nitrogen awaiting final commissioning and delivery.
“The helium train was tested and all components are working as designed, with the microturbines creating the cooling effect as needed.”
During the test, the helium train was supercooled to temperatures close to the liquefaction of helium before the test had to be stopped due to a utility that proved unreliable.
The utility in question, Renergen explains, was the drive oil system that provided lubrication and heating to the plant.
“The facility had been installed incorrectly and was providing inconsistent heating to the driving oil, and to ensure no damage would be done to the plant, management decided to shut down the plant to repair the utility in question “, he adds, noting that it has since been patched, reinstalled, tested, and is working reliably and within spec.
With the plant shut down to complete this repair, the company has taken the opportunity to connect additional wells that were recently drilled, which will increase the plant’s production and bring the plant closer to full design specifications.
The process from there is to pressurize the pipeline, prime the utilities, and fire up the plant for steady-state production, starting the LNG first and turning on the liquid helium later.
The helium module has Renergen’s full attention, the company says.
“Fundamentally, there is no material difference from where the company was three weeks ago. If we had pushed to continue to the point of helium liquefaction without stopping the operation, the risk to the plant was significant. “While shutting down the plant just hours after producing liquid helium was less than ideal and extremely frustrating for the entire team, and certainly for the shareholders as well, the decision was the right one as the risk was simply too high,” said the CEO. Stefano Marani notes
He adds that this launch “has always been to ensure the minimum risk of ignition, not speed”.
“We are fully aware that the plant is being delayed, but we have been working around the clock to ensure it is safely switched on without damaging this critical investment which will operate for at least the next 20 years. Our shareholders’ confidence in the team does not go unnoticed, and our main objective is to offer a fully functioning plant with the least possible risk”, he concludes.
