FLNG (Floating Liquified Natural Gas) design concepts are currently being developed by various parties in the offshore / gas industry. Gas is widely recognized as one of the cleanest fuels for the coming years and is available in significant amounts
Since the exploration locations do not match with today’s consumption locations, gas needs to be transported on long distances. Liquefaction of gas near its exploration site and subsequent transport (by pipelines of LNG Carriers) is a common design concept that supplies LNG also to the European market. LNG export terminals in North Africa and the Middle East provide a large portion of today’s gas demand to industrialized economies like in Europe and Japan. However, today’s new gas fields are more and more found on very remote locations (deep water field) far from shore-based liquefaction installations. This implies that significant lengths of gas pipelines would be needed to transport the gas - via very deep oceans - to its consumers.
Today’s new technologies allow to the installation of liquefaction units to be installed on LNG vessels that can be moored close to the exploration location. Floating LNG concepts are currently being studied by large International Oil Companies like Shell, Petrobras, BG and others. The technology looks available, which leads to in-depth analysis of its commercial and technical feasibility.
DNV has been involved in many LNG projects worldwide over the last decade. Our consultants have been working for new and existing LNG export and import terminals, as well as for LNG transports. Also is DNV involved in feasibility studies for Floating LNG concepts in order to assess the technical safety risks involved and the reliability of the chosen configurations. Our role is often a third party assessor of design proposals during which we use advanced computer models to simulate the potential scenarios that might impact the reliability and safety performance of the FLNG concept once in operation. Software packages like SOQRATES, PHAST, MAROS, KFX, Express and other have proven to be valuable decision support tools.
DNV has employees in several teams in Europe that have competence and experience in feasibility studies for Floating LNG concepts. From our West-European offices in Rotterdam, London and Paris we are able to provide local support to engineering departments, construction companies and IOCs on today’s FLNG challenges. Our headquarter in Norway provides additional detailed technical competence on specific technology matters.
Information
For more information please contact our BeNeLux Solutions Department
Datum: woensdag 16 februari 2011