Oil & Gas

LNG Terminal Cryogenic Piping — Southeast Asia

Indonesia120 tons304L seamless pipe, welded pipe

Project Background

A major LNG receiving terminal in Indonesia required stainless steel piping for cryogenic service at -162°C (LNG boiling point). The project demanded 304L stainless steel pipe with Charpy impact testing at -196°C to verify toughness at the lowest possible service temperature. The terminal would handle 5 million tons of LNG annually, making material reliability critical for continuous 365-day operation.

Technical Specifications

Material	304L (UNS S30403)
Standard	ASTM A312 + cryogenic impact testing
Size Range	2 inch to 24 inch NB
Wall	SCH 10S through SCH 80S
Testing	Charpy V-notch at -196°C per ASME B31.3
Quantity	120 tons
Delivery	8 weeks (phased)

The Challenge

Cryogenic LNG piping at -162°C requires materials that maintain toughness and ductility at temperatures where standard carbon steel becomes brittle like glass. 304L stainless steel must demonstrate minimum Charpy impact energy of 27J at -196°C. The project also required phased delivery to match construction schedule — with on-site storage limited due to the remote terminal location.

TOKO TECH Solution

TOKO TECH supplied 304L seamless and welded pipe with full cryogenic impact testing per ASME B31.3. Every heat lot underwent Charpy V-notch testing at -196°C on three specimens, with all results exceeding the 27J minimum (actual range: 45-80J). Phased delivery in 8 lots of approximately 15 tons each matched the construction schedule precisely, eliminating on-site storage costs. EN 10204 3.1 MTRs with cryogenic test results provided full documentation for the terminal's regulatory compliance package.

Search Keywords

LNG terminal pipingcryogenic pipe 304L-196°C Charpy testingLNG receiving terminalASME B31.3 cryogenicstainless steel cryogenic serviceIndonesia LNG

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 304L used for LNG cryogenic piping?

304L maintains excellent toughness at cryogenic temperatures where carbon steels undergo ductile-to-brittle transition and become extremely fragile. At LNG temperature (-162°C), 304L retains over 40% elongation and Charpy impact energy typically 40-80J — well above the ASME B31.3 minimum of 27J.

What testing is required for cryogenic pipe?

Cryogenic piping per ASME B31.3 requires Charpy V-notch impact testing at the minimum design temperature or lower. For LNG service at -162°C, testing is typically performed at -196°C (liquid nitrogen temperature) to provide a safety margin. Each heat lot requires three specimens with both individual and average minimum impact energy requirements met.

Need a Similar Solution?

Tell us about your project requirements and we'll develop the optimal material specification and delivery schedule for your application.

Request a Quote

Back to All Case Studies