Maximizing LNG Cooldown Operation Efficiency
BKOAI streamlined an LNG cooldown cargo operation by deploying a Seeq dashboard that centralized critical parameters and automated threshold alerts, supporting an efficient cooldown while reducing operational risk
Goals
- Safely cool down LNG cargo piping and tanks from 80°F to -260°F during unloading.
- Mitigate structural failure risks through continuous, automated thermal monitoring.
- Improve remote visibility so engineers and operators can monitor cooldown status from anywhere.
- Reduce the risk of missed threshold exceedances during the cooldown process.
Challenges
- Manual tracking of hundreds of temperature relationships increased the risk of human error and missed threshold exceedances.
- Thermal stress, cracking, and stratification threatened piping and tank integrity.
- Fragmented manual readings and live PI tag data made it difficult to maintain a unified view of the cooldown process.
- Rapid temperature changes created a high risk of leaks, cracks, and equipment damage if abnormal conditions were not identified early.
Solutions
- Deployed a Seeq dashboard for real-time automated thermal monitoring and alerting.
- Tracked pipe parallelization, thermal displacement, and top/bottom temperature delta.
- Monitored tank trending to prevent thermal stratification and rapid rate-of-change issues.
- Integrated manual readings with live PI tag data into a unified dashboard for clearer operational visibility.
Results
- Enhanced safety and reliability by detecting abnormal thermal behavior early.
- Reduced structural risks, including piping leaks, cracks, and unplanned shutdowns.
- Unified data views by seamlessly integrating manual readings with live PI tag data.
- Enabled remote monitoring through a web-based dashboard, allowing engineers and operators to track cooldown progress from anywhere.
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