Mitigating geohazard risks in LNG development: the Rovuma project

Challenge

The Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique represents one of the most ambitious liquefied natural gas developments in the region.

Phase 1 of the project required a comprehensive understanding of complex geohazards and geotechnical conditions across nearshore and shelf-break areas.

The engineering teams faced significant challenges in ensuring the feasibility and robustness of EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation) design solutions, particularly in mitigating risks related to soil instability, debris slides, boulder impacts, and extreme metocean events such as tropical cyclones. 

Applied expertise

RINA provided a full suite of geoscience services to support the project’s Phase 1 development. This included: 

- Survey and geotechnics: nearshore geophysical and geotechnical survey, laboratory tests, soil unitization and design parameters. Geotechnical modelling and assistance at the nearshore and shelf-break areas. Debris or slab slide impact analyses and soil-structure interaction. 

- Geohazard: probabilistic boulder impact assessment on pipelines and umbilicals including structural damage estimate. Development of turbidity current loads for engineering design. Micro-siting and routing changes with QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment). 

- Metocean studies: metocean data analysis and interpretation. Tropical cyclones analysis and assessment of induced metocean parameters (wind, wave, current) for engineering design. 

Impact

RINA’s integrated geoscience approach significantly enhanced the project’s risk management capabilities.