Supporting Sardinia’s future gas infrastructure in Oristano, Italy

Tractebel will deliver front-end engineering design services for the upgrade of HIGAS’ small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Oristano, Italy.

Image: LNG terminal, Oristano, Italy (© HIGAS)

HIGAS srl has awarded a contract to Tractebel for the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase of its onshore facilities in Oristano, Sardinia. Tractebel will support the project from concept development towards a safe, robust and future-ready terminal design.
The existing LNG import terminal’s upgrade in the Port of Oristano will enable the permanent mooring of a floating storage and regasification unit alongside the existing multi-user quay where the HIGAS LNG discharge point is located.

Tractebel’s mandate

Front-end engineering design is a key project phase that defines the technical scope, main design choices, cost estimate and planning before detailed engineering and construction can begin.

Tractebel’s scope covers the adaptation of the existing quay structure, including fenders, mooring piles and hooks, LNG and high-pressure (HP) gas unloading arms, and ship gangway, plus the design of onshore civil works and technical installations.
Our multidisciplinary teams will also contribute to the terminal’s core technical scope, covering LNG unloading and boil-off gas handling, HP gas export process units and lines, electrical and instrumentation systems, safety studies, 3D modelling, hazard identification and hazard and operability analyses. Tractebel will also support the project with capital expenditure cost estimation and planning, helping HIGAS prepare a robust basis for the next project phases.

The project team also integrates Tractebel’s IMDC experts for marine studies, Ports and Waterways experts for marine civil studies, our Czech Republic experts on 3D modelling, and Laborelec for cybersecurity, ensuring that the marine interfaces, security systems and technical integration with the existing terminal are addressed with specialist expertise.

Enhancing flexibility in Sardinia’s gas supply chain

The development will significantly enhance the current coastal energy infrastructure, transforming the site from an onshore LNG storage terminal into a multifunctional facility combining storage, regasification and flexible distribution. Once completed, the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit facilities will provide a maximum LNG storage capacity of approximately 84,000 cubic meters, and a maximum regasification capacity of approximately 5 million cubic meters per day.

The upgraded facility will support the storage and regasification of LNG for injection into Sardinia’s future regional gas transmission network, while maintaining small-scale LNG services such as truck loading operations and reloading for small-scale vessels. Through this assignment, Tractebel once again demonstrates its ability to support complex gas infrastructure projects by combining engineering excellence, marine expertise, safety know-how and integrated project delivery.