Air Products Wins Algerian LNG Plant Contract

US firm Air Products has been hired by Algeria's Sonatrach to supply four of its MCR cryogenic heat exchangers for the GL1Z LNG facility in Arzew, Algeria, it said on September 9.

The exchangers each have a 1.3mn mt/yr production capacity and will replace four existing units which Air Products supplied in the late 1970s. Those exchangers are some of the longest in operation in the world, the company said.

The new models will be installed as part of Air Products' proprietary AP-C3MR propane pre-cooled mixed refrigerant liquefaction process at the multi-train facility. Their installation will reduce maintenance costs, lower gas consumption rates and maintain the LNG plant's production rate. They will be built at Air Product's Port Manatee factory in Florida.

GL1Z is one of three LNG facilities at Arzew and consists of three trains capable of producing 7.9mn mt/yr of LNG. The other two plants, GL2Z and GL3Z, have capacities of 8.2mn mt/yr and 4.7mn mt/yr.

The order from Algeria comes a month after Air Products was also selected to provide its proprietary AP-X gas liquefaction technology and equipment for the first expansion stage at Qatar's North Field LNG hub.