August 24, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- Oman LNG has completed an upgrade project involving two of its gas liquefaction trains at its Qalhat facility near Sur, with large-diameter butterfly valves supplied by AVK incorporated into the upgraded cooling-water discharge system.

Oman LNG operates three liquefaction trains at the coastal facility, with a combined production capacity of 10.4 million tonnes per year. The company processes, liquefies, stores and markets natural gas and LNG for customers in Oman and international markets.

The latest work formed part of a turnaround project focused on replacing the existing weir boxes serving trains 1 and 2. The cooling system uses seawater during the gas liquefaction process, with the water discharged back to the sea at a higher temperature through a submerged outfall system.

The replacement design called for the construction of two dedicated weir boxes, one serving each train, together with large-diameter butterfly valves and dedicated outfalls to the open sea. Engineering consultant Worley Oman was awarded the contract for the associated works in January 2020.

AVK Gulf became involved during the front-end engineering design and budgetary stages, supporting Worley Oman through the development of the valve solution. Following the initial enquiry in July 2020 and subsequent technical discussions, AVK was qualified for the project later that year.

The valve supplier ultimately provided a bonded, vulcanized-lined butterfly valve solution for the application. According to AVK, the design was selected over competing loose-liner alternatives based on its combination of cost efficiency, durability and established performance in similar applications across the region.

A key challenge was meeting Oman LNG’s delivery requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the critical valves had to reach the site ahead of the scheduled September 2021 production-line shutdown. Following the purchase order issued to AVK in January 2021, the first two valves were delivered in time for the planned turnaround, while the remaining two were delivered in March 2022.

The completed project involved the installation of four Wouter Witzel concentric, double-flanged butterfly valves, each with a nominal diameter of DN1800.

The scale and timing of the work made the project a significant milestone for the parties involved. The turnaround was described as the largest in Oman LNG’s history, while the successful delivery of the valve package strengthened the relationship between AVK and Oman LNG and established a platform for potential future projects.

The project also highlights the importance of reliable flow-control equipment in LNG facilities, where cooling-water systems form an integral part of the wider liquefaction process. With each LNG train comprising a sequence of equipment used to process, purify and liquefy natural gas, the performance and reliability of supporting infrastructure are critical to maintaining plant operations.