Article

Tractebel, part of ENGIE, is repurposing an LNG terminal at Fos-sur-Mer, France, into an ammonia import facility. The project, developed in the pre-FEED stage by Elengy, required a piping strategy for transferring ammonia from marine vessels to onshore storage while allowing concurrent LNG operations.

Initially, a subsea pipe-in-pipe system was proposed, but as LNG operations are set to cease, the design transitioned to a jetty-mounted single-wall piping system with enhanced safeguards. This new strategy incorporates remotely actuated isolation valves and fibre-optic monitoring for leak detection, maintaining risks as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).

The system aims for Safety Integrity Level 2 reliability, with ongoing performance evaluations planned for the fibre-optic system during cryogenic cycles. Future developments may involve digital twins and hybrid piping materials to optimize safety and efficiency.