ConocoPhillips is continuing with a second year of exports from their North Kenai LNG plant. COPA’s Natalie Lowman said last year the company sent monthly shipments to Japan from May through October…
Lowman: “Our natural gas is usually contracted during the weather because of cold weather, but this time of year we have surplus gas and that allows us to export it.”
Last week the first shipment in this year’s program experienced a hiccup; the ‘Excel,’ a Belgian-made LNG tanker, was en route to Nikiski when an engineering gasket malfunctioned, mooring the vessel in Homer.
The Coast Guard says the ship was moored April 27th, examined the following day and verified that the gasket had been replaced.
As the crew was preparing to continue to Nikiski on April 29th, the vessel experienced an “automated engineering casualty” and canceled its voyage until a surveyor could confirm the issue was fully resolved. The surveyor determined the casualty was a product of a faulty engine order telegraph.
By order of the Coast Guard, the Excel was kept in Kachemak Bay until May 1st, when it was released with several security measures. the tug, the “Stellar Wind” accompanied the ship to Nikiski, where a second tug, the “Glacier Wind” assisted the vessel with docking.
Permanent repairs are now being completed in Nikiski.
