Commissioning & Safe Startup
Commissioning
Commissioning is an important phase that prepares the facility for the safe production of LNG and ongoing operations.
Preparing the Facility for Operations
Commissioning is the final stage of construction and an important step in preparing the Woodfibre LNG facility for safe, reliable operations.
During commissioning, every major piece of equipment, system and safety process is carefully inspected, tested and verified before the facility begins producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). Rather than starting the facility all at once, systems are brought online gradually in a carefully planned sequence to confirm they are operating as designed.
This phase helps ensure the facility is ready to operate safely, meets all regulatory requirements and performs as intended before entering full operations.
Commissioning at Woodfibre LNG is expected to begin in mid-2027 and continue for approximately six to eight months, followed by a period of stabilizing operations during which systems continue to be optimized.
What Happens During Commissioning?
Commissioning involves thousands of individual checks and tests across the facility.
Activities include:
- Verifying mechanical completion of equipment.
- Testing electrical, instrumentation and control systems.
- Confirming safety systems, alarms and emergency shutdown systems operate correctly.
- Cleaning and preparing piping and process equipment.
- Introducing natural gas into sections of the facility in carefully controlled stages.
- Testing compressors, pumps, valves and other process equipment.
- Safely bringing process systems online.
- Producing the facility’s first LNG.
Every stage is completed according to detailed procedures before moving to the next phase.
Commissioning and Flaring
For most people, commissioning activities will look similar to the final stages of construction as work continues to prepare the facility for operations.
The most noticeable difference will be the start of flaring, which is a normal and necessary part of commissioning and the safe start-up of an LNG facility.
Flaring allows natural gas to be safely combusted while equipment is tested, process systems are brought online and operating conditions are stabilized. During commissioning, flaring may be more visible or occur more frequently as different parts of the facility are tested and verified.
Woodfibre LNG carefully plans commissioning activities to minimize the duration and frequency of flaring wherever it is safe and practical to do so. Flaring activity is expected to be highest during commissioning and gradually decrease through stabilizing operations as the facility reaches stable operating conditions.
