10 years of operating Thi Vai Cold LPG Storage

Thi Vai Cold LPG Storage in PV GAS Vung Tau Port Warehouse area is part of a series of important projects of Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, also in the Planning for the development of the seaport system of group 5 of the Southern key economic region to 2020, with a vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister. This is the first cold LPG storage in Vietnam, since its inception, it has always been considered an important milestone, gradually perfecting the infrastructure of the Vietnamese gas industry, having pioneering significance as well as bringing great socio-economic values to the country in general and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province in particular.

On April 21, 2009, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group issued a decision approving the investment project to build a cold LPG storage facility, with a total investment of over VND 2,500 billion and a capacity of 60,000 tons of cold LPG. After 3 years of construction, on March 20, 2013, Thi Vai cold LPG storage was officially inaugurated and handed over to KVT under the Vietnam Gas Corporation. If at that time, the existing gas storage facilities in Vietnam were all pressurized LPG storage facilities, with a total capacity of 31,000 tons, the establishment of Thi Vai cold LPG storage facility marked a breakthrough in technology and storage capacity, in line with the world trend, affirming the solid steps according to the outlined strategy of PV GAS.

Receiving the first and largest cold LPG storage project in Vietnam, the leadership and staff of KVT faced many difficulties and challenges that could not be resolved overnight. The operators lacked operating experience due to the completely new technology and equipment system; the problem of synchronizing the infrastructure and equipment system from the old pressurized LPG storage and the new cold LPG storage; this was also the first time receiving a ship with a tonnage of up to 60,000 tons; the risk of incidents such as collisions with ships, wharves and other risks was always present, requiring high requirements for ensuring maritime security and safety;... Faced with that situation, the leadership and staff of KVT together with related departments and units in the whole PV GAS were determined to overcome all difficulties and challenges in order to receive and operate the cold LPG storage safely and effectively.

Risks are fully identified in both the "Trial Run" and "Official Operation" phases; thereby providing effective solutions to gradually overcome and master the technology. In particular, before and during the "Trial Run" phase, KVT has actively implemented solutions such as: Establishing a reception team consisting of professional groups, assigning responsibilities to groups and individuals to learn about the equipment system; sending personnel to Thailand for training on cold LPG storage operations; sending operating personnel to participate in equipment/system training courses supported by reputable organizations; organizing internal training on cold LPG technology for operators; creating all conditions for operators to perform all operations and activities during the trial run under the supervision of experts and contractors.

In addition, to minimize risks in the process of receiving large tonnage ships, in February 2013, KVT completed the process of receiving 60,000-ton refrigerated LPG ships, along with disseminating information to relevant parties before the refrigerated ship arrives at the port; increasing experienced personnel to support during the ship's docking and cargo handling process; agreeing on a detailed docking plan with parties participating in the trial run; reviewing the auxiliary system for docking; ensuring good operation before the ship arrives; sharing lessons learned in receiving large ships from incidents around the world;...

During the “Operation” phase, KVT simultaneously implemented the following solutions: Coordinated with state management agencies such as Vung Tau Maritime Port Authority, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Border Guard Command, Provincial Traffic Police Department, Vung Tau Pilotage Enterprise in guiding maritime safety, guiding ships to and from ports, ensuring security and order; discussed with the general contractor's experts about possible risks in operation and remedial measures; periodically held experience-sharing meetings with relevant parties in operation, ensuring security and safety; organized training and testing of operational knowledge for 100% of operators before assigning work; studied operating instructions and technical documents from equipment manufacturers to compile 33 necessary procedures for operation; established a suggestion book and incident handling measures in operation to share experiences.

After many efforts in research, learning, coordination and experience, along with the direction and support of the functional departments of the Corporation, state management agencies, the coordination and companionship of other units, the collective leadership and employees of KVT have successfully received the Thi Vai Cold LPG Warehouse; operated safely, continuously, firmly grasped the technology, and were completely proactive in the operation process.

With a journey of 10 years of continuous efforts, steadfast responsibility, proactive learning, active coordination, creative innovation, KVT has achieved great achievements from Thi Vai Cold LPG Storage. On February 10, 2013, KVT successfully implemented the project's Gas printing from Maple 1 floating storage, with a volume of more than 14,000 tons. On June 15, 2017, PV GAS Vung Tau Port Warehouse received the largest ship Pacific Dongying with an imported volume of more than 47,500 tons. December 2018 marked the milestone of Cold LPG Storage at PV GAS Vung Tau Port Warehouse receiving the 100th cold LPG ship, bringing the total import volume through PV GAS Vung Tau Cold Storage to 3.41 million tons of LPG.

To date, Thi Vai Cold LPG Storage has undergone nearly 88,000 hours of safe operation, receiving 208 cold LPG trains with 6.86 million tons of imported LPG through the cold storage, a total of 145 warehouse rotations. The PV GAS Vung Tau Port Warehouse System, including the Cold LPG Storage, currently supplies 60% of the LPG output consumed in the Vietnamese market. Continuing the 10-year journey, entering a new era, Vung Tau Gas Processing Company continues to pursue the great mission assigned by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and PV GAS, constantly improving and innovating to enhance work efficiency, affirming and consolidating PV GAS's leading position in the Vietnamese LPG market as well as in the region.

It can be said that each success achieved is the crystallization of labor and determination. On the 10-year journey to success and development of Thi Vai Refrigerated LPG Storage, the collective leadership and employees of KVT have constantly challenged the limits, been proactive, pioneered with the right vision and strategy. To reach today, we have achieved proud achievements from the pioneering steps in the past 10 years and created sustainable values for the next generation of employees to inherit and develop. These achievements are not only written by the collective of Vung Tau Gas Processing Company but also by the leaders, colleagues, partners, and customers who have accompanied and participated from the stages of project preparation, implementation, testing to successful operation.

Contributing to promoting the development potential of the entire gas industry, Thi Vai Refrigerated LPG Storage has been writing new achievements under the name of Vietnam Gas Corporation, leaving a beautiful and useful mark for the entire community.

CELLO

Source