Floating and float-in LNG solutions for Australian and international locations
Brian Haggerty A and Mark Hoffmann AWoodside Energy Ltd.
The APPEA Journal 54(2) 513-513 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13086
Published: 2014
Abstract
The costs of LNG projects have increased worldwide. FLNG and float-in near-shore facilities reduce the total amount of infrastructure required for an offshore gas field development. Woodside has developed a range of FLNG and float-in/near-shore facility concepts. In the process, key lessons from more than a dozen potential applications were obtained. The optimisation of process efficiency and availability versus operability and maintainability ends up in a different balance to onshore LNG or FPSO. Knowledge of LNG and FPSO operations and maintenance is required to design FLNG.
Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) does not fully define the safety of the facilities. The application of proven philosophies, simplicity and management of concurrent operations drives inherent safety.
The choice of refrigerants for the liquefaction process on an offshore facility is not straightforward (e.g. nitrogen does not necessarily offer as big a safety advantage as often assumed).
The design-one-build-many strategy can offer significant advantages if a number of similar facilities can be sanctioned in quick succession; however, this is not generally available and a bespoke solution will generally be optimum.
Concrete near-shore facilities have superior durability and potentially lower maintenance but require significant pre-FID decisions and investment for graving docks, etc.
FLNG offers greater certainty of execution outcome because of the fabrication and construction in the controlled shipyard environment; however, experience and management processes are required to manage the novelty aspects.
Earlier contracting and execution decisions are required for floating LNG than for onshore LNG or standard FPSOs.
Presently, Brian Haggerty is VP Technology Woodside Energy and responsible for identifying, and where necessary, developing appropriate surface facilities and downstream technologies as required by Woodside’s current and potential development opportunities. Previously he was Woodside VP LNG Development responsible for the technical front-end development of Australian and international LNG and gas opportunities. He has had oil and gas industry experience of 35 years with Woodside and Shell has had responsibilities in offshore and onshore developments, projects and operations. With Shell he had responsibility for gas and LNG strategy and as well as development and execution roles for LNG and gas-to-liquids including Pearl GTL project in Qatar. He is Chartered Professional Engineer (Australia) and holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in engineering and an MBA. He is member of Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Society of Engineers and Engineers Australia. |
Mark Hoffmann has 27 years industry experience, including 23 years in the oil and gas sector, working for contractors and operators on concepts and facilities from early development, engineering, construction and commissioning phases through to operations support roles. Over the last 15 plus years, Mark has held development and engineering management positions across the O&G supply chain, from upstream subsea and production facilities to onshore plants, including LNG. During the last 6 years, he has been working on FLNG concept development, integration and design, including the last two years and his present position is being Woodside’s FLNG Development Manager within the Technology Division. Mark holds a Bachelor of Engineering; Chemical and Materials from the University of Auckland (1986), a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Henley Management College UK (1995). Mark is also a Fellow ICHemE. |
References
Bryngelson, R., 2013—Technological Innovation and Infrastructure in the LNG Industry, 17th International Conference on LNG (LNG 17), Houston, Texas, 19 April.Stegenga, S., and Pek, B., 2011—Floating LNG - Groundbreaking Innovation Becoming A Reality. International Petroleum Technology Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, 7–9 February.
