Stainless Steel Skid for Offshore Regassification Plant
Several stainless steel skids were manufactured by Montanstahl for an offshore regassification plant built on a vessel in Norway. The skids housed all process equipment for the regassification of LNG, liquefied natural gas and the cryogenic operating conditions ruled out carbon steel from the outset. With process temperatures reaching down to -180°C, stainless steel 304L was the required material grade for the structural framework. The result was a complete supply package of custom-length laser fused HEA beams and square hollow sections, laser engraved for on-site assembly, with stiffening plates and lifting lugs supplied as part of the order.
Cryogenic Service at -180°C: Why Carbon Steel Was Not an Option
LNG regassification involves handling liquefied natural gas at temperatures as low as -180°C. At these conditions, standard carbon steel becomes brittle and loses the fracture toughness required for structural integrity. Stainless steel 304L retains adequate toughness at cryogenic temperatures, making it the appropriate material choice for the skid framework. The offshore context added further demands: the vessel-mounted installation required a structure that could handle both the process environment and the mechanical loads of a marine setting, with no margin for in-service failure.
Custom Sections for a 9 × 2 × 5 Metre Structure
The skid envelope, 9 m long, 2 m wide, and nearly 5 m high, dictated section lengths and flange geometry that fell outside standard mill supply. Montanstahl supplied laser fused HEA beams in sizes 140, 180, and 300, and square hollow sections (SHS) in sizes 150 and 300, cut to custom lengths of 3.4 m and 4.5 m. Flange lengths were specified at 295 mm to eliminate material waste, and flanges were cut at the ends to simplify on-site assembly. Each completed section was laser engraved with a unique identification code, allowing every piece to be located within the assembly sequence. Stiffening plates and laser-cut lifting lugs were supplied loose as part of the complete package.
Application Context
This project sits within Montanstahl’s Oil, Gas & Petroleum segment, where laser fused special profiles in stainless steel are specified for process equipment frameworks operating under demanding thermal and mechanical conditions. Offshore regassification is a context where material performance, dimensional accuracy, and assembly readiness are all critical and where standard mill sections rarely meet the geometry required. Montanstahl supplies custom stainless steel structural profiles for projects of this type worldwide.