Dunkerque LNG Truck Loading Station
Sofregaz Leading FEED Design in France
- Project Name: LNG Truck loading station within the Dunkerque LNG Receiving Terminal Project
- Country: France
- Project Site Location: West Port of Dunkerque
- Name of Client: GRAND PORT MARITIME DE DUNKERQUE with DUNKERQUE LNG and AIR LIQUIDE
- Project Type: Conceptual Design & FEED
- Completion Date: 2016
The Dunkerque LNG Truck Loading Station is a crucial expansion within the Dunkerque LNG Terminal, located in northern France. This facility is designed to handle up to 10 LNG trucks per day, providing a flexible solution for transporting LNG via road. The station will be equipped with a fully automated system for scheduling, truck access, loading, and safety management, ensuring an efficient and secure loading process.
This infrastructure is essential to expanding LNG availability throughout France and Europe, supporting industries that rely on cleaner, low-emission fuels.
As the lead firm for the conceptual design and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), Sofregaz has played a central role in ensuring the successful development of the LNG truck loading station. Sofregaz’s contributions include:
- Process design: Ensuring the smooth integration of the new loading station with the existing LNG terminal systems,
- Safety measures: Developing advanced safety protocols to manage potential hazards and ensure the secure operation of the facility,
- Automation and control systems: Designing a fully automated scheduling and loading system for trucks, enhancing the efficiency of the operation.
The new LNG truck loading station is designed to handle up to 10 trucks per day, with a maximum loading flow of 90 m³/h. The fully automated system manages every aspect of the operation, from scheduling and truck access to loading and billing. This ensures a streamlined and secure process that minimizes human intervention while maximizing throughput and safety.
Integration with Existing Systems
One of the primary challenges of this project was ensuring the smooth integration of the truck loading station with the existing infrastructure of the Dunkerque LNG Terminal. Sofregaz successfully developed a process design that seamlessly connected the new facility to the terminal’s existing storage and loading systems, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Sofregaz placed a strong emphasis on safety during the FEED phase, designing advanced systems to manage potential risks. These include breakaway systems, purging by nitrogen, and fire & gas detection systems. Additionally, the project has been developed in compliance with environmental impact assessments and other regulatory requirements, ensuring it meets the highest safety and environmental standards.