First exports start from Yamal LNG project

On Dec. 8 President Vladimir Putin officially triggered the start of liquefied natural gas exports from Novatek’s new LNG facility at Sabetta on Russia’s Yamal Peninsula in the Kara Sea. Product from the Yamal LNG project was loaded onto the Christophe de Margerie, the first of 15 ice-capable LNG carriers to be built for the project. The 299-foot vessel, which is capable of cutting through 1.5-meter sea ice, has already demonstrated its capabilities by carrying an LNG cargo from the Barents Sea around Russia’s Northern Sea Route to South Korea. Apparently the LNG carriers will be able to operate year round, without icebreaker support.

The gas for the Yamal LNG project comes from the South Tambey gas field. Oil company Total is a partner in the project. Project startup involved bringing on line the first of three LNG trains planned for the facility. The train has a 5.5 million tons per year capacity, according to the Yamal LNG website.

“Obtaining permission to commission the first LNG train is the cumulative result of many months of hard work and dedication by thousands of construction workers, installers, and engineers who have worked and continue to work in Sabetta,” said Evgeniy Kot, general director, Yamal LNG. “We not only maintained our strict project deadlines, but we also expect to launch the second and third LNG trains ahead of schedule.”

Curiously, the Financial Times has reported that the first cargo of LNG from Yamal is being diverted from Asia to the United Kingdom, in response to a pending shortage of natural gas in the UK. Apparently, the Forties pipeline that transports crude oil from various offshore North Sea fields to the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland has shut down following the discovery of a crack in the onshore segment of the 42-year-old pipeline. The resulting shutdown of several oil fields has caused a 12 percent fall in the supply of natural gas to the UK from the North Sea, the Financial Times said.

- ALAN BAILEY