Elba Island is a LNG import facility located downstream from Savannah on the Savannah River providing over 18% of the nation’s natural gas supply. The facility consists of 4 large storage tanks and associated pipelines and transfer stations to hold and transport liquefied natural gas throughout the Southeast. Reactivated in 2001, Elba Island, operated by Southern Natural Gas, a division of El Paso Energy, has undergone one major facility expansion consisting of the construction of a new large storage tank and landside pipeline facilities, construction of a slip berth dredged from upland property, installation of 2 adjacent unloading structures complete with mooring and breasting dolphins for the unloading of 2 LNG vessels simultaneously. Included in the expansion was the restoration of approximately 12 acres of saltwater marshes. A 2nd expansion project is presently underway to increase the overall storage, unloading capacity, and transport capability of the facility including additional berthing structures to accommodate larger future LNG vessels, a new larger tank and additional dredging of the slip, and slope protection of the slip and waterfront.
Thomas & Hutton has served as the Owner’s Engineer during permitting, design, and construction of the landside civil and marine structural design throughout the first expansion and during the upcoming expansion project.