New breakthrough! China's LNG storage tank successfully lifted into place.

On September 26,four 220,000-cubic-meter LNG(liquefied natural gas)storage tanks—designed and built entirely by China National Offshore Oil Corporation(CNOOC),hereinafter referred to as CNOOC)—were successfully topped off in Yancheng,Jiangsu Province.This marks the largest single-tank LNG storage project in China and also represents the country's most extensive LNG national reserve base constructed in a single phase,underscoring a significant advancement in China's core technology for LNG tank construction.

According to Li Feng,the on-site leader of CNOOC Jiangsu LNG Project,lifting the massive LNG storage tank under pressure is akin to topping off a roof—it represents the most technically challenging and safety-critical phase in the entire construction process.Notably,the 220,000-cubic-meter tank that was recently lifted sets a new national record for the largest LNG storage capacity in China.Compared to conventional 160,000-cubic-meter tanks,this 220,000-cubic-meter model features a dome that’s 30%heavier and covers nearly 1,000 square meters more—essentially"lifting"a colossal structure weighing 940 tons(roughly equivalent to a football field in size)from the ground up into the air using pressurized gas.

Due to several technical challenges—such as the large span,long tank diameter with low horizontal stiffness,and complex natural vibration modes of the storage tank structure—the construction of LNG tanks exceeding 220,000 cubic meters is currently mastered worldwide only by South Korea and Japan.Zhang Chao,head of China National Offshore Oil Corporation's(CNOOC)LNG tank design team,explained that during the design and construction of this 220,000-cubic-meter LNG tank,CNOOC successfully tackled critical issues like the stability of the ultra-long-span structure and advanced seismic-resistant design,positioning the company among the few global leaders capable of developing and executing core technologies for LNG storage tanks.To achieve independent advancements in LNG tank design and construction technology,CNOOC established a dedicated technical team in 2009 and initiated comprehensive research into LNG tank technology.Through continuous innovation,the company has since completed the design and construction of multiple large-scale LNG tanks,including the 30,000-cubic-meter LNG tank in Tianjin,as well as the 160,000-cubic-meter LNG tanks at Fujian LNG and Zhejiang LNG projects.These achievements mark a historic breakthrough,enabling China to develop indigenous LNG tank technology from scratch—and now placing the country among the select few globally capable of undertaking the design and construction of massive LNG storage facilities.

The successful topping-out of Jiangsu LNG's 220,000-cubic-meter LNG storage tank marks the beginning of China’s ambitious journey in constructing ultra-large-scale LNG storage facilities,positioning these massive tanks as the cornerstone of the nation’s LNG reserve infrastructure.As a key project within China’s national natural gas production,supply,storage,and sales system—and a critical component of CNOOC’s LNG reserve base in East China,designed to handle operations on a scale of tens of millions of tons—Jiangsu LNG officially broke ground in May 2019,with commercial operations expected to commence by 2022.Once completed,the Jiangsu LNG project will become China’s largest LNG storage facility,significantly enhancing the country’s capacity for emergency gas supply and peak-shaving.By delivering a steady stream of clean energy via pipelines,tank containers,tank trucks,and tankers to provinces and cities across East and Central China,the project is projected to cut annual CO2 emissions by 75 million tons—equivalent to planting 20 million trees each year.This initiative will accelerate China’s energy transition and support the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt,paving the way for a greener,more sustainable future and helping to build a"Beautiful China."

Wang Dongjin,Chairman of CNOOC,stated that the successful lifting of the 220,000-cubic-meter LNG storage tank in Jiangsu marks a significant achievement for CNOOC in implementing its green development philosophy.Taking this milestone as an opportunity,CNOOC will actively pursue research and development of core technologies for ultra-large-scale full-containment LNG storage tanks,further advancing the design and construction of the world's largest 270,000-cubic-meter LNG storage tank.This initiative will provide robust support for accelerating China’s natural gas production,supply,storage,and sales system,as well as the country’s broader energy transition.