Emerson Process Management has announced the completion of digital automation engineering and design for the $12-billion Qatargas II facilities expansion, one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

Emerson, the main instrumentation and controls contractor (MICC) for the project, has begun integration and testing of the digital automation system, and will install its PlantWeb digital architecture, assist with the expansion project commissioning and start-up, and provide operator training.
The Qatargas II expansion, a joint venture of Qatar Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Total, will add onto the existing Qatargas site at the Ras Laffan Industrial City, which has three operational LNG units – or trains – producing eight million tonnes of liquefied gas annually.
Phase one of the QG-II expansion includes LNG train number 4, scheduled to begin delivery of 7.8 million tonnes of LNG per annum to the UK in mid-2008.  Train number 5 is then scheduled to produce an additional 7.8 million tonnes per annum nine months later.  These LNG liquefaction trains are two of the largest in the world.
Emerson PlantWeb digital plant automation architecture will be installed as part of the expansion to help Qatargas achieve its goal of producing 45 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually by 2010.  PlantWeb integrates plant-wide operations for optimum process control, operational excellence, and management information. 
PlantWeb uses a Foundation fieldbus-based network of intelligent field devices to deliver continuous process and equipment health information. These include Emerson Rosemount transmitters, Micro Motion Coriolis flowmeters, Fisher valves with Fieldvue digital valve controllers, and AMS Suite predictive maintenance software.  AMS Suite applications deliver diagnostics and guidance that help unit operators and maintenance personnel optimise performance and availability.
Post start-up services by Emerson will include a multi-year commitment to furnish and manage hardware and software for plant automation systems, safety instrumented systems, training simulation, plant-wide data historian, transmitters, valve positioners, and advanced control solutions.
“Emerson is excited to be a key part in helping Qatar Petroleum achieve its vision of being the world’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas and condensates,” said John Berra, president of Emerson Process Management.  “We are very committed to Qatargas and the liquefied natural gas industry.”
In other news related to Emerson Process Management, it was announced that its PlantWeb digital automation architecture and system integration services had helped Brunei Shell Petroleum  Bhd (BSP) start up its Phase III Champion West oil and gas field platform.  The platform, located off the coast of Brunei, operates completely unmanned. 
PlantWeb uses a Foundation fieldbus network of intelligent devices and Emerson’s DeltaV digital system to provide an operational overview of the Phase III platform, which is monitored by engineers and operators at the main manned complex 10 km away, on the Champion West Drilling Platform – 1 (CWDP-1).  The Phase III platform installation also features remote control and monitoring from the Onshore Control Centre in Brunei.
Emerson supplied smart digital devices including Rosemount pressure, level and temperature transmitters; Micro Motion Coriolis flow meters; and Fisher valves with Fieldvue digital valve controllers.
The Emerson instrumentation and equipment on the Phase III platform interfaced with that of other international vendors using open, standards-based Foundation Fieldbus and OPC technology.
And in another development, Emerson Process Management and Wartsila Automation Norway have decided to form an alliance to supply total electrical and instrumentation systems in the floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) segment.