A multi-million-dollar compressor is being installed by Touchstone Exploration Limited, a move expected to double natural gas production at the Cascadura Facility Project.
Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, was at the Port of Point Lisas to witness the arrival of the equipment on Friday.
Minister Moonilal outlined the importance of the equipment, describing it as a key expansion initiative for the country’s energy sector.
“What it does, it stabilises pressure in the pipeline so that over a period of time we actually produce more gas. So this is really a gas expansion initiative, moving from what I’m told to be 10 million standard cubic feet to almost 20 million so it’s almost a 100% increase in gas expansion from Touchstone alone.”
Touchstone’s Executive Vice-President of Engineering and Business Development, Brian Hollingshead, confirmed that the compressor, which was split into six container-sized sections, represents a multi-million-dollar investment, covering its purchase and transportation to Trinidad and Tobago.
“We’ve shipped in a 3750 horsepower compressor for our Cascadura site. What it’s going to do once installed is it will lower the facility pressure and boost more natural gas from our plant into the domestic market at Trinidad.”
Ramps Logistics Limited handled the transshipment of the equipment from the United States to Trinidad.
Vice-President of Projects and Safety at Ramps Logistics, Gagen Ramkissoon, explained the scale and complexity of the operation, noting that the size of the cargo posed unique challenges.
“We were in charge of the full logistics from Houston straight to Trinidad, and clearing it off the Port and we’re going to transport it down to the Rio Claro Cascadura Field. So, because the cargo is very wide, it is actually 18 feet, so it actually picks up two lanes on the road going down and there was a lot of logistics involved from the Houston side of it where we had to apply for permits, get it to the Port into Houston, then we chartered a vessel, bring it into Trinidad and now we are in a convoy on our way to Rio Claro.”
Once installed, the compressor is expected to come on stream from June 26th.