FALCÃO Project
Operator: SOMG/Sonagás
Location: Soyo, Angola

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The Falcão Project consisted in the construction of a natural gas pipeline between Angola LNG, located in Soyo – Angola, and the Soyo Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCCS) to supply natural gas for electricity generation at this plant. The result of this supply would be delivered to the national power grid.

The 20-inch gas pipeline has, approximately, 8,500m in length and is currently in service.

Associated to the pipeline, it was necessary to build a Gas Reception and Distribution Unit (GRDU) and associated buildings and utilities – Office building / Power generation / HVAC systems / Workshop.

GRDU facilities were installed in an area of approximately 10,000 m², where the monitoring and operational control of the project is carried out. GRDU includes the following process equipment:

  • Slug catcher and gas scrubber units – final separation and cleaning of the gas delivered to the CCCS;
  • Incinerator;
  • Vent/ventilation system; and
  • Fiscal metering system, in compliance with national regulations.

The design flow rate is 150 MMSCFD (comprising 130 MMSCFD supplied by Angola LNG plus a margin of 20 MMSCFD). The operational infrastructure is operating with a supply of natural gas to the CCCS of approximately 75 MMSCFD (75 million standard cubic feet per day), at an average pressure of 32 bar.

 

 

General Services provided: Audit services as a legal requirement for official issuance of Operating License, including the issuing of a report on Commissioning and Start-up activities of the FALCÃO Project, located in Soyo – Angola.

1 – FALCÃO Project documentation reviewed:

  • Basis of Design (Pipeline & GRDU);
  • Project Quality Management Plan;
  • Detailed Project Schedule (Fabrication / Manufacturing / Assembly / Pre-Commissioning / Start-Up / Performance Tests);
  • Inspection and Test Plans;
  • Project HSE Plan;
  • Fiscal Metering Manufacturing records;
  • Process and Instrumentation records.

 

2 – Project activities witnessed and audited:

  • 20” Pipeline
    • Hydrotests / Inspection and Pre-Commissioning activities / Pipeline degassing and re-gassing – on location and at Mecwides’s yard in Soyo – Angola;
  • GRDU (Gas Reception and Distribution Unit)
    • Construction / Safety systems review / Process equipment assembly / Mechanical Completion tests / Inspection activities and reports / Commissioning / Start-Up and Gas-in activities – at GRDU facilities in Soyo – Angola;
  • Bow-Tie Area (Interface between the Falcão pipeline and Angola LNG plant)
    • Mechanical completion / Welding / Inspection activities / fiber optic cable assembly – at Bow-Tie area in Soyo – Angola;
  • SLUG Catcher
    • Manufacturing / Welding activities / NDT activities / Materials traceability / Records review – at A. Silva Matos facilities in Taboeira, Aveiro – Portugal;
  • Fiscal Meter
    • FAT / Welding traceability / NDT reports / Materials traceability / Records review – at Krohne facilities in Dordrecht – Netherlands;
  • PIG launcher/receiver & piping
    • Coating and painting procedures / NOI (Notice of inspection) / Inspection procedure / Welding traceability / Records review – at Prozinco facilities in Santiago do Cacém – Portugal;
  • Performance Tests
    • Monitoring and test witnessing – at the Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCCS) in Soyo – Angola.
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