ArcelorMittal's organic coated steel shines in world-leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility

Detailed information

The Yamal LNG project, based above the Arctic Circle, is one of the most ambitious in the world. Using hydrocarbon resources from the South Tambey field, Yamal will produce up to 16.5 million tonnes (Mt) of LNG annually.

The infrastructure for the project includes three liquefaction ‘trains’ – each with a capacity to produce 5.5 Mt of LNG annually. The modules which make up the trains are as big as a six-storey apartment building. They were pre-fabricated at five shipyards in Asia and then shipped to the site on the Yamal Peninsula as complete modules.

Organic coated steel for corrosion resistance and durability

Construction of the first liquefaction train began in Asia during 2015. ArcelorMittal partner Van Dam was awarded the contract to supply 50 000 square metres (m2) of its Generation III-F® bolted wall cladding system for the modules. More than 28 000 m2 of panels were supplied by Van Dam for the second train during 2016.

The Generation III-F® system consists of separate box profiles for the interior and exterior faces of the panels. Before being joined, they are lined with several types of insulation blanket for additional fire resistance.

“Van Dam advised the client to use ArcelorMittal's organic coated steel for the outer and inner skins of the panels,” notes Leo Assenberg van Eijsden, project manager for Van Dam. “We have been using this steel for more than 30 years and our engineering department has practical and long-term experience with its use, particularly in the offshore petrochemical industry. It offers excellent corrosion resistance and durability, even in the harsh Arctic environment where Yamal is located.”

Pure and robust, as required by nature

The contract for the Yamal project specified that the panels had to cope with temperature variations from -40 to +40°C. “With its 200 μm thick coating, this organic coated steel is particularly suited to northern European and harsh climatic environments such as the Arctic,” explains Coen van Gorp, key account manager for ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

“This steel enabled us to meet Yamal’s requirements for fire resistance and gas tightness,” says Leo Assenberg van Eijsden.

Van Dam’s Generation III-F® panels were finished in three exterior colours: RAL 9010 (white), RAL 5021 (blue), and RAL 2008 (orange). The interior side was finished in a 100 μm thick coating of RAL 9010.

Complex project, quality never in doubt

With such a huge and truly global project, there were many complications for Van Dam: “There were changes in colour combinations as well as the normal order modifications you expect on a project of this size,” notes Leo Assenberg van Eijsden. “Logistically, one of the biggest challenges was that construction of the modules continued in China over European holiday periods such as Christmas. We needed to keep delivering panels throughout to keep up with the demand.”

Some of these complications flowed on to the ArcelorMittal Gent mill where the organic coated steel for Yamal was produced, as Coen van Gorp explains: “The change in colour combinations meant that Van Dam had to adjust their orders frequently to ensure they had the right colours in stock. This caused us some logistical issues, but nothing that the ArcelorMittal team could not deal with. Importantly, there was never a quality issue with the steel produced for Yamal.”

In addition to organic coated steel, ArcelorMittal also supplied beams and sheet piles for the construction of the Yamal base in the Arctic. The beams were needed to build supporting structures for the gas liquefaction and purification facilities, as well as halls and auxiliary buildings for equipment. ArcelorMittal sheet piles were used to construct the port of Sabetta which services the Yamal plant. “ArcelorMittal has one of the most diverse product ranges of any steel supplier in the world, enabling us to supply all the steel needs for major infrastructure projects such as Yamal,” notes Coen van Gorp.

More ArcelorMittal products at Yamal LNG: structural sections and sheet piling suited for extreme temperatures

ArcelorMittal provided 19 500 tonnes of beams and around 20 000 tonnes of sheet piles – all produced in Luxembourg – for the Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. ArcelorMittal's steel perfectly matched the requirements for the extreme climatic conditions, where the temperatures can reach -50°C.

In 2014-2015, ArcelorMittal’s Belval and Differdange mills in Luxembourg supplied 19 500 tonnes of beams for the project (special steel grades suitable for applications at temperatures as low as -50°C). The beams were mainly used to build the supporting structure of the plant: the gas liquefaction and purification facilities as well as the auxiliary equipment and industrial buildings and halls.

ArcelorMittal’s steel was chosen for this project as we can supply hot rolled steel sheet piles with a steel grade matching the requirements for extreme climatic conditions, including installation of the steel sheet piles at very low temperatures.

The total scope of this mega project includes:

•     in the first stage, 4 quay walls with a total length of approximately 915 m, for which ArcelorMittal’s Belval and Differdange mills supplied 9700 tonnes of our HZ/AZ system in 2012
•     the South-Eastern Ice Barrier (deep-water part, 773.8 m) for which Belval supplied 6772 tonnes of steel sheet piles in 2014
•     the North-Western Ice Barrier (1270 m)
•     2 loading platforms with 3616 tonnes of steel sheet piles supplied by Belval in 2015

About Yamal LNG

Yamal LNG is one of the world’s largest modular LNG facilities and is a joint venture between NOVATEK (50.1%), Total (20%), CNPC (20%), and the Silk Road Fund (9.9%). As well as the Yamal LNG facility, the project includes the construction of a sea port and an airport.

On 29 November 2017, Yamal LNG was granted permission to commission the first of its three liquefaction trains. Production of LNG began immediately with the first shipment of gas leaving Yamal on 8 December. Trains 2 and 3 are expected to come onstream in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Train 1 will use gas from 58 wells in the South Tambey Field.

More info: http://www.yamallng.ru/en/

About Van Dam

Van Dam is a leading manufacturer of fire- and blast-protection systems for oil and gas installations, offshore turbines, infrastructure, and defence. The company offers a range of solutions for doors, windows, and wall systems. Formed in 1906, Van Dam became a part of Groupe Gorgé in 2013.

More info: https://van-dam.nl/