Switchover from legacy Honeywell DCS to advanced I/A Series automation system performed without interrupting natural gas send-out activities at the largest LNG receiving terminal in the US
FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS - November 9, 2004 - The Invensys Global LNG Business and Technology Centre recently helped Panhandle Energy's Trunkline LNG (TLNG) terminal in Lake Charles, Louisiana to successfully complete a comprehensive automation system upgrade project. From start to finish, the entire automation upgrade project was completed in just eight months. Thanks to careful planning between TLNG and Invensys personnel, the actual cutover from the legacy Honeywell distributed control system (DCS) to the new Foxboro-brand I/A Series automation system was performed over a two-month period with no interruption of natural gas send-out activities. This automation upgrade was performed in conjunction with ongoing terminal expansion activities. "Overall, the project went extremely well.
The system cutover, in particular, went very smoothly," commented John Kelly, TLNG Project General Manager. "Our Controller's acceptance of the new Foxboro system has been very good. The graphics are definitely much better and easier to use and learn and there's a lot more capability. We anticipate realizing significant improvements in reliability, maintainability, ease-of-use, and troubleshooting capability.
With its long-lived architecture, we also expect that we'll get many years of service from the system before we'll have to consider going through another system replacement." Invensys provided a turnkey automation solution for TLNG. This included the I/A Series control system, Foxboro HART-based intelligent field instrumentation, third-party integration, a training and testing simulator, data loggers, plus complete design, application engineering, installation, commissioning, control room modernization, and training services. To maximize safety, reliability, and availability, all I/A Series system controllers and communications networks utilize fully redundant/fault-tolerant configurations.
In addition, Invensys implemented groundbreaking advanced control applications designed to optimize fuel management on the vaporizers, significantly improve send-out accuracy, and provide real-time material balances to help further improve operations. Invensys LNG Centre regasification specialists based in Houston, TX developed these innovative applications. "Although our LNG terminal is over 20 years old, it has been maintained as one of the most modern in the world and the new automation system is a critical element of the facility," commented Jeryl Mohn, Senior Vice President Operations and Engineering for Panhandle Energy.
"It is crucial that we can rely on our control systems to provide highly reliable, nonstop control to ensure that ship unloading and LNG regasification operations meet the critical needs of our customers. Our Controllers at the terminal continue to recognize the significant improvement in send-out system automation."
About Trunkline LNG
Completed in July 1981, the Trunkline LNG receiving and regasification terminal in Lake Charles, Louisiana is the largest and most modern LNG importation terminal in the United States. Trunkline LNG is part of Panhandle Energy, A Southern Union Company.To help meet the country's increasing demand for natural gas, Trunkline LNG is currently expanding the terminal. Once the expansion is completed, the sustained daily send-out capacity of the terminal will be almost tripled, from 630 million cubic feet per day to 1.8 billion cubic feet per day.
Storage capacity will be increased from 6.3 billion cubic feet of gas to 9 billion cubic feet. This capacity is expected to be available in mid-2006.
About the Invensys Global LNG Business and Technology Centre
The Invensys Global LNG Business and Technology Centre leverages a network of satellite centers located in Houston, Montreal, Singapore, and elsewhere. These centers focus on developing, deploying, and supporting business and technology solutions for liquefaction, marine, and regasification.
Additional resources are drawn as needed from Invensys' other sales, support, and technical centers around the world, thus enabling Invensys to deliver consistently high-quality solutions and responsive support to LNG customers anywhere in the world.The Invensys Group ( www.invensys.com ) is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London Stock Exchange. With 35,000 employees operating in 60 countries, Invensys helps customers to improve their performance and profitability, building value for end users and shareholders alike.