After more than two years of intense work, the ALLS project (Amplitude LNG Loading System), realized in Montoir-de-Bretagne of France, in collaboration with Gas de France, Technip and attended by the same GdF, Chevron, Conoco, BP, Hoegh and Total, is concluded positively.

More than two kilometres of insulation of the installation, entirely made from K-FLEX IN CLAD SYSTEM, for more than 6 months have been subjected to severe tests and controls without manifesting any problems. At the end of testing and scrupulous controls, the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has granted a “Statement of Feasibility” certifying the adaptability of our system for LNG applications. 

The system can be applied at temperatures up to -163°C in marine environments and within any climatic condition.

This important certification, which is granted for the first time to the elastomeric insulation product applied in a cryogenic application, is particularly important because it does not certify only the suitability of a product, but evaluates the complexity of the insulation system, including piping, valves and process equipment.  

The process of qualification, particularly detailed ad precise, was carried out in several steps:

1) Complete definition of the system and all its components. 

All the individual components of cryogenic insulation system have been established and verified.

2) Definition of all functional objectives, as following:

-  Fire Resistance; 

- Thermal insulation, protection against freezing and prevention of condensation or ice on the isolated surface; 

-  Long-lasting and robustness of the system: ensure not fracture or deterioration in case of the temperature variations and/or loads under normal conditions of use; 

- The spread of steam and water penetration do not affect the performance of isolation; 

- Aging effects due to environmental variables do not damage the properties of the system; 

- The composition of the material does not cause any risk of corrosion of the pipeline; 

- Easy maintenance and control. The system design allows easy repair, maintenance and inspections.

Achieving of the settled goals was verified as following: 

3) Analysis of the risks associated to possible failures according to FMECA system (Failure Mode Identification and Risk Ranking). 

At this stage, each element of the system was classified, according to its historical use (from “1: Proven technology” to “4: Demanding new technical challenge”). A part of our system was classified with “3: New Technical challenge”, and then subjected to thorough risk analysis. 

Every single element of the isolation has therefore been associated with a class of probable risk. All classes of risk and innovativeness of the system have generated an assessment of classes of consequences; therefore a risk category.

This approach, extremely serious and conservative, led to a thorough evaluation of possible accidents due to possible fractures in the insulating material, failures in compression joints, and fractures of protective ALU layer, supports deformation and penetrations through the IN CLAD barrier.

All possible tests, with the understandable exception for failure of support, led to a low risk assessment, reducing performance or creating cold spots. Several cases of failures are attributable only to external damage or installation failures. For these abnormal situations, has been stated that it is not necessary to block the plant and all repairs are possible without interruptions. 

Regarding the use under normal conditions, DNV inspectors have verified that the installed system doesn’t present any of possible defects identified during the Risk Analysis. In this way, confirming the efficiency of the system also for the primary installed sections that were in function for 30 months under different climatic conditions, including the marine environment. Many tests, made to dismantle part of insulation and simulating repairs, led to a positive assessment of the system.

Such prestigious result can be attributed to a good teamwork. Here I would like to recall the contribution of Luca Cuca for the installing of the system, Jean Baigozine for the relations with Gas de France and Technip, Stein Pettersen for relations with DNV.

 Andrea Marenghi

Technical Manager, L'ISOLANTE K-FLEX

K-FLEX DNV Statement of Feasibility IN Clad LNG.pdf