Port Meridian Deepwater Project

The Port Meridian deepwater port is located offshore in the Morecambe bay - and is based on a floating regasification vessel. The regasification vessel receives LNG offshore, store the LNG, regasify the LNG onboard and send the gas to shore via a subsea pipeline to the National Grid. The project utilizes technology offered by submerged turret loading (STL) to connect the regas vessel to the subsea pipeline.

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The STL system is capable of mooring an LNG vessel fitted with STL berthing facilities, regasification and offloading equipment. For Port Meridian an LNG vessel may be moored for long periods of time and will be loaded via side by side LNG transfer. By use of side by side transfer, standard LNG vessels may be utilized in the transport chain.

Port Meridian would also be able to serve LNG vessels equipped with STL berthing facilities and onboard regas facilities.

The unloading buoys are designed by Advanced Production Loading AS (APL) and is also commonly known as Submerged Turret Loading (STL) Buoys.

When not connected to a regas vessel, the unloading buoy would be submerged and resting on the sea bed. A marker buoy and retrieval line will be used to locate and recover the buoy. The unloading buoy would be retrieved from its submerged position to be hoisted up through a moon pool in the forward part of the SRV. After the buoy is locked in position, unloading of natural gas can begin. Port Meridian has the option to install two unloading buoys.

The unloading buoys will be connected via a pipeline to land facilities located just east of the Morecambe Bay gas terminals. Here the Port Meridian land facilities (AGI) will be connected to the National Grid.