DCS system in Malaysia

Distributed control technology increases system reliability and availability, helps achieve productivity and safety excellence

Invensys Operations Management has signed, US $12.4 million contract to upgrade and modernize a distributed control system (DCS) for Malaysia Liquefied Natural Gas Sdn. Bhd. (MLNG). The major upgrade will provide a continuously current DCS, sustain the productivity and safety of MLNG's liquid natural gas operations in Bintulu, Sarawak, (MY). The project is expected to be completed by 2014.

"We are proud to be selected for this large-scale complex DCS migration with superior technology, proven migration methodologies and deep project expertise," said Terence Chan, vice president and managing director, Invensys Operations Management, ASEAN, Japan and Taiwan. "This upgrade is key to help MLNG meet growing demand and its vision for world-class safety and productivity excellence."

MLNG has used Invensys Operations Management's Foxboro I/A Series DCS throughout its operations for many years and the current contract calls for upgrading all of MLNG's existing distributed control systems to newer Foxboro I/A Series CP270 models. The CP270 DCS provides twice the capacity and three times the performance of older controllers, improving cost effectiveness in demanding environments. This newer Foxboro series are fault tolerant and perform regulatory, logic, timing and sequential control, as well as data acquisition, alarm detection and notification. Providing the highest availability of any critical control system in the process industry, the I/A Series solution is engineered for non-stop operation, with fault tolerance residing at all levels of the system, from process controllers to redundant field networks and fieldbus modules.

"LNG trading volume is projected to significantly increase during the next 10 years as countries worldwide aggressively adopt it as a more environmentally friendly energy resource and as industrialising nations continue to demand reliable access to it," said Medan Abdullah, managing director, MLNG. "We need a scalable, new-generation DCS to help us to sustain our role as a major LNG player, as well as reduce costs and help us maintain the safety and integrity of our operations. This upgrade will extend the life of our plant control system, equip us with the necessary gateway for future technology enhancements and enable us to achieve safety and productivity excellence."

Along with the Foxboro I/A Series DCS, MLNG also uses Invensys' field instruments and advanced applications, such as the company's SimSci-Esscor® operator training simulator and Triconex® safety systems.

The Bintulu LNG Complex houses the MLNG, MLNG Dua and MLNG Tiga plants. It has a combined capacity of about 23 million tonnes per year, and together with ancillary facilities which include six LNG storage tanks and two loading jetties, and it is currently one of the world's largest LNG production facilities from a single location.