DUNKERQUE LNG TERMINAL : TANKS DESIGN

Abstract

The consortium composed of Entrepose Projets and BouyguesTravaux Publics has won a tender held by Dunkerque LNG,subsidiary of EDF, to design and build the three cryogenic LNG(liquefied natural gas) storage tanks of methane terminal ofDunkerque (Dunkirk) in Northern France. Each of the tanks hasa working capacity of 190.000 m3. Their main dimensions are91m in diameter and 50 m height. They are among the largest“full containment tanks” built in the world, composed of aninternal 9% Nickel steel inner tank which will contain the LNG ata temperature of -163°C, thanks to an insulation system composedof perlite, foamglas, fiberglass, etc..., and of an outer concretestructure (prestressed wall, reinforced dome and raft). BouyguesTravaux Publics builds the concrete structures and carry out thesoil improvement. Construction of the concrete structure startedat the beginning of 2012 and is almost completed at this time.Such project allows dealing with major structural design issuessuch as the geotechnical engineering, seismic analysis and as wellthe analysis of very specific accidental situations