Kiewit Energy Company and joint venture partner IHI E&C International Corporation engineered, procured, constructed and commissioned the Cove Point LNG Export Terminal located on the Chesapeake Bay in Lusby, Maryland. The scope of work included the addition of a LNG export facility at Dominion Energy’s existing import facility. Together, the new and existing facilities provide bi-directional import and export capabilities, and are the second bi-directional facility in the US to enter into commercial operation and the first located on the east coast. This facility opened international markets for the Marcellus and Utica shale plays — two of the most prolific natural gas basins in North America.

Major scope included a feed gas receiving area, pretreatment area, liquefaction unit, a 130 MW power plant and outside battery limit facilities. The liquefaction technology is based on APCI’s C3MR process. Two 50% liquefaction compression trains provide a total liquefaction capacity of 5.25 MTPA. Equipment included two GE 7EA natural gas turbine-driven compressors, two Alstom steam turbine generators, two Hamon Deltak heat recovery steam generators and an APCI mixed-refrigerant cryogenic heat exchanger.

Construction activities included tie-ins to the existing facility and relocation of existing infrastructure to accommodate the expansion. The design addresses varying feed gas supplies and composition; implements feed gas recycling to limit flaring during startup; and features parallel refrigeration strings and a zero liquid discharge treatment facility — all within the existing and operational re-gas facility. Innovative design and construction efforts were employed to meet all environmental and regulatory requirements, to preserve the surrounding pristine landscape and bay, and to maintain the existing footprint.