EnerMech gets to work on world’s largest FLNG project

Scottish engineering firm EnerMech has scored a contract to work on Shell’s giant Prelude FLNG project.

EnerMech has been awarded a pre-commissioning subcontract by Technip Oceania Pty Ltd, part of TechnipFMC in Australia, on the Shell Australia operated Prelude FLNG project.

The work scope includes the pre-installation filling of the risers, riser leak testing, pressure monitoring of the umbilical and electrical steel flying lead during pipelay, and electrical flying leads and umbilical testing.

Works will be conducted in-field, located approximately 230 kilometers from mainland Northwest Australia, with engineering and project management conducted from EnerMech’s Perth Australia facility, the company said.

EnerMech’s Australia Manager for Process, Pipelines & Umbilicals, Jamie McIntyre, said: “Experience of similar pre-commissioning work scopes in Australia and the high calibre of our Perth Australia based staff who have strong credentials in process, pipeline and umbilical contracts, put us in a good position to win this contract.

“We are looking forward to continuing our relationship with TechnipFMC in Australia and to working for the first time in-region on a project with Shell Australia as the end-client.”

Prelude FLNG

Shell is building the floating LNG unit in South Korea. Once complete it will be moved offshore W. Australia where it will produce gas from the Prelude field, and then turn it into LNG.

According to Shell, the facility is longer than four soccer fields, displacing six times as much water as the largest aircraft carrier. Once complete, the Prelude FLNG facility will be the biggest floating offshore facility in the world.

While the Floating LNG has been studied for years, it was not until recently that firm steps were made towards the concrete development. Shell was the first company to start with an FLNG development, aiming to bring online its giant prelude gas field offshore W. Australia.

The final investment decision for the project was made in 2011, and, according to LNG World News, the Prelude could start producing in 2017.  The Prelude FLNG facility will be 488 meters long, 74 meters wide and along with its contents, will weigh around 600,000 tonnes.

While Shell was the first to start the development, Petronas was the first to actually bring an FLNG unit to production. Petronas’ 365 meters long floating LNG unit SATU produced its first LNG from the Kanowit gas field, offshore Sarawak on December 5, 2016.

Other notable players in the advanced stages of FLNG development are Eni, with its gas fields in Mozambique, and Ophir developing a gas field offshore Equatorial Guinea.

Offshore Energy Today Staff