Our Arctic Neighbors: StatoilHydro replaces plant’s heat exchangers

Norway’s StatoilHydro shut down its Melkoya liquefied natural gas plant Aug. 15 for up to three months of scheduled upgrading and maintenance work, the company said in a release. The plant near Hammerfest processes natural gas from the Snohvit field in the Barents Sea.

From February this year the plant has produced at approximately full capacity, but to maintain this rate the plant has to be made more robust, the company said.

“We estimate about 510,000 labor-hours in connection with the stoppage, including preparations and the finishing process,” said Geir Hopland, the plant’s turnaround manager.

One of the big operations due to be undertaken will be the replacement of 15 heat exchangers which are at the core of the process that cools the Snohvit gas into a liquid state. All gas must be removed from the plant during the shutdown.

—Sarah Hurst