September 14, 2020 [S&P Global Platts] – Spanish gas grid operator Enagas is planning 11 fairly substantial maintenance between September and November affecting LNG terminals, storage and pipelines, according to a work schedule published Sept. 8.

In terms of LNG terminals, the first work scheduled in September is at the 10.5 Bcm a year Sagunto, where regasification capacity is due to be reduced by 20% for cleaning work on the catchment pool. The work is due to commence Sept. 19 and continue through to Nov. 13.

On Sept. 29, the country’s largest LNG terminal, Barcelona (17.1 Bcm/year) will install new arm frames, which will mean no unloading or loading thorough Oct. 10.

Following that, the terminal will start work on a valve replacement on Oct. 13, which will reduce regasification capacity by 46% through to Oct. 19 and then subsequently start work on drawer catchment cleaning over Oct. 19-Nov. 2, causing a 23% reduction in regasification capacity.

For December, Barcelona’s sendout capacity is also due to be reduced by 23% over 10 days, yet to be determined, for assembly of the LNG line.

During September, the 3.6 Bcm/year Mugardos terminal also has four sets of work lined up in the surrounding area covering 18 days, but not affecting capacity, according to the schedule.

In October, besides the ongoing maintenance at Barcelona and Sagunto, the 11.8 Bcm/year Huelva terminal will carry out maintenance on its dock protection system over Oct. 11-20, which will reduce regasification capacity to zero.

At the 11.8 Bcm/year Cartagena, Enagas will carry out three days of work Oct. 27-29 on the Rotork actuator control loop system which will reduce regasification capacity by up to 78% and make loading and unloading services unavailable.

The terminal could also be indirectly affected by 15 days of work in October on the surrounding pipeline system but these should not affect regasification capacity or the schedule.

In November, however, Cartagena will be unavailable for unloading on Nov. 25 and 26 due to a revamp of electrical panels and installation of an emergency generator.

Storage halts

In the country’s underground storage system, all four sites will undergo some work in the upcoming period.

For September, the 2.0 Bcm Yela site will be unavailable Sept. 14-27 due to cleaning of separators and then injection will be unavailable Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

At the 2.7 Bcm Gaviota site, a month of work will also start on the offshore platform and the torch will be shut down, with no injection or withdrawal over Sept. 28-Oct. 30.

In October, extensive work will start at the 600 million cu m Marismas site, postponed from June, which will have no injection or withdrawal from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30 due to work in two of its underground wells.

The 1.1 Bcm Serrablo site only has minor testing work for five days in November, which will not affect capacity.

For the country’s European pipeline connections, current pipeline work on the French side of the VIP Pirineos link will mean a 22% reduction in import capacity from France from a usual 225 GWh/d, ongoing through to Sept. 25.

There will also be 18 days of work on the 158 GWh/d connection with Portugal in September, plus 11 days in October and five days in November, all with no impact on capacity.

The 219 GWh/d Medgaz link with Algeria will undergo maintenance work over Sept. 21-24, possibly halting capacity for two hours, with a further 15 days’ work on the link in October, but with no significant effect on flows.

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