Recently, the dome of LNG Storage Tank No. 3 for the China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (PipeChina) Hainan LNG Phase II project was successfully raised into position through a pneumatic air-lift maneuver, whereby air is pumped into the body of the storage tank beneath the dome, thereby lifting it up. Weighing 821 tons, this installation marks the shift from outer-tank civil construction to the core phase of inner-tank installation. The project will now proceed into pouring the ring beam and dome concrete.

The dome of LNG Storage Tank No. 3 for the PipeChina Hainan LNG Phase II project was successfully installed using an air-lift operation

Photo: interviewee

The No. 3 LNG storage tank can hold 220,000 cubic meters. Its dome, weighing 821 tons, was lifted to about 43 meters, comparable to a 15-story building. The process relied on pressure differences inside the tank, with several fans working together to gradually raise the dome to its final position.

The operation relied on digital management and control technologies to track the dome’s lifting path in real time, ensuring stability and control throughout the process while effectively preventing measurement errors common with manual monitoring.

So far, the overall progress of the Hainan LNG Phase II project is approaching the halfway point. It is expected to be completed in 2027. Once finished, Hainan’s LNG storage will reach 980,000 cubic meters, providing an additional 400 million cubic meters of gas storage capacity. This will greatly improve regional peak-shaving and energy supply capabilities.

Construction site of the PipeChina Hainan LNG Phase II project

Photo: interviewee

Hainan LNG Phase II is a major project aimed at optimizing energy distribution in South China and ASEAN markets. It makes full use of Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP)’s customs policies and strategic position within the “freer access at the first line, regulated access at the second line” framework. The project’s goals include enhancing energy security for Hainan and South China, while also promoting diverse activities such as international transshipment, bonded storage, LNG futures and spot trading, the creation of standard warehouse receipts, and receipt financing.

The project is currently exploring a market-oriented and internationalized operating model for LNG receiving terminals. This development is expected to establish Hainan as a key LNG resource supply center for ASEAN and as a significant storage and transshipment hub in the Asia-Pacific region.