Diseño sísmico del tanque de gas natural licuado en Mejillones, Chile

Seismic design of a liquefied natural gas storage tank in Mejillones, Chile

The design and construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tank involves multiple challenges to be overcome as a project of high technical complexity. In the case of Mejillones (Chile), in addition to the enormous dimensions (more than 90m of outer diameter and 50m in height; 175,000m³ of net volume), and the effect of cryogenic temperatures (-170°C inside the tank), we have to consider that it is located in one of the highest seismic risk areas on the planet. The company, Técnicas Reunidas, successfully carried out the works as the EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction) contractor, within the framework of the second phase of Mejillones LNG Terminal, brought into service in January 2014. As a result, it is probably the biggest LNG tank on seismic isolators in the world.