LNG plant in Barcelona

Regasification Plant in the Port of Barcelona: A Legacy of Energy

Located on the Energy quay in the Port of Barcelona, our regasification plant stands out as the oldest in Spain and continental Europe.

Opened in 1969, this facility has evolved considerably. Today, it has six tanks and is equipped with advanced technology for loading and unloading LNG carriers. With a total LNG storage capacity of 760,000 m³ and a send-out capacity of 1,950,000 m³(n)/h, it is a vital pillar of the regional energy infrastructure.

CATHODIC PROTECTION OF COMPLEX STRUCTURES

Background to Inspection and Design of the Cathodic Protection System

During the cathodic protection inspection in 2015, the inadequacy of the existing system to protect the plant’s pipe rack was confirmed.

In response, detailed calculations were carried out in early 2016 to assess the equipment required to ensure comprehensive protection of the plant’s metal masses. This process was approached by treating the plant as an equipotentially bonded assembly and following the cathodic protection assessment requirements set out in EN 14505: Cathodic Protection of Complex Structures.

It was then that Procainsa SA designed a new imposed current cathodic protection system specifically for the buried pipe network in the plant.

A COMPLEX PROCESS

The system consists of five Cathodic Protection Stations with anode beds in 50m long deep boreholes, with a 20m long inactive part to distribute the protection current as efficiently as possible, distributed throughout the plant, and 36 monitoring points equipped with permanent electrodes with recordable probe for evaluation of the polarisation achieved at the selected monitoring points.

A particular challenge in implementing the system was drilling deep boreholes in the sandy soils of the Llobregat Delta, where the plant is located. Several thousand metres of cable were laid for the installation.

A GREAT SUCCESS

Cathodic Protection System Implementation

The system consists of five Cathodic Protection Stations using anode beds in 50-metre deep boreholes. Each station includes a 20-metre inactive section for optimal distribution of the protection current. These stations are strategically distributed across the plant.