Two South Korean companies, GasEntec and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), are pooling resources to commercialize small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology.
The two companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for GasEntec to license SHI’s SAMSUNG Enhanced Nitrogen Split Expansion (SENSE) liquefaction technology for small-scale applications between 50,000 and 1 million tons per annum. The MoU enables the duo to pursue the first commercial licensing of SENSE.
Brian Yoon , Chief Executive Officer of GasEntec, commented: “As global LNG capacity expands, liquefaction technology is entering a new cycle of innovation and diversification.
“Our partnership with SHI brings their proven liquefaction technology to the small-scale segment, backed by our expertise integrating modular LNG systems worldwide, for the first time. Customers will be able to access an integrated platform that enables flexible solutions spanning liquefaction through to downstream delivery.”
SHI developed its SENSE technology to achieve efficiencies in excess of standard natural gas liquefaction processes, featuring a gas expansion process that uses nitrogen and methane as single-component refrigerants, with the entire process operating in a gaseous state, thereby increasing stability and operational convenience.
The MoU covers licensing SENSE for small-scale liquefaction, while Samsung Heavy Industries will continue to offer liquefaction technology for larger-volume applications, including floating LNG projects. The collaboration is extending GasEntec’s capabilities midstream into liquefaction.
Youngkyu Ahn , Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of SHI, underlined: “Our award-winning SENSE natural gas liquefaction system is the result of nearly a decade of research and development, validated through more than 1,000 hours of demonstration testing.
“We are pleased to partner with GasEntec to deliver small-scale applications of our technology, based on their proven ability to deploy innovative LNG technology at scale.”
According to GasEntec, small-scale LNG is an active segment as producers and industrial users seek to monetize stranded gas without the capital intensity of large-scale liquefaction trains.
The company points out that potential applications for SENSE at this scale include local LNG production for ports and marine corridors, onward distribution of LNG from local piped gas, monetization of stranded gas resources, and fuel supply for remote power, industrial, or bunker use.