Korea Gas Corporation receives TQMS certification for full containment LNG storage tank

From left, head of Korea Gas Corporation Research Institute Kim Yong-hwan and ExxonMobil Korea CEO Sean Chung pose during the presentation ceremony of TQMS certification at the U.S. energy firm's Korean brand office in downtown Seoul, Tuesday.

By Kim Jae-heun

The technology for liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks developed by the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) has been certified by the global energy firm Exxon Mobil.

KOGAS held an online event at ExxonMobil Korea's Seoul office, to receive the certification through a video call with the U.S. firm's headquarters in Texas. The head of KOGAS Research Institute Kim Hwan-yong, ExxonMobil URC Vice President Robert Foglesong, ExxonMobil Korea CEO Jung Sung-wook and 10 others participated in the ceremony.

The state-run company independently developed a design technique for in-ground membrane storage tanks in 2007. Two years later, it successfully improved the technology for the storage tank to stand above ground with full containment.

Last year, KOGAS adopted the technology for the first time in the world for two LNG storage tanks on Jeju Island. Each tank stood on 45,000 square meters of land.

KOGAS has been working with ExxonMobil since 2017 on developing and verifying the technology.

ExxonMobil sent a taskforce of LNG storage tank experts from its Upstream Research Company in Houston to review the blueprints of KOGAS' full containment tank and visit the construction site on Jeju Island when the storage facility was built.

During this time, the U.S. energy firm granted it certification as a total quality management system (TQMS).

“This certification, which has been thoroughly evaluated by ExxonMobil, means that the Korean Gas Corporation technology is eligible for direct use in our business,” ExxonMobil URC Vice President Robert Foglesong said.

Kim Hwan-yong, head of the KOGAS Research Institute, said the TQMS certification by ExxonMobil is “an accomplishment proving that KOGAS is now a leader in the technology of full containment for LNG storage onshore,” adding, “We will continue to work in the field to increase our capability in the global market.”

ExxonMobil Korea CEO Sean Chung said, “The close cooperation between the two companies for more than 40 years led to the successful outcome of the TQMS certification. We hope that KOGAS' LNG tank technology will be applied to ExxonMobil's Global LNG projects, providing an opportunity for the two companies to create a synergy effect.”