First gas flows at Petronas’ SATU FLNG unit

Petronas’ first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility PFLNG SATU achieved its first gas milestone on November 14, 2016, at the Kanowit gas field, offshore Sarawak, Malaysia.

The introduction of gas from the KAKG-A central processing platform at the field ignited the PFLNG SATU flare tower at the height of 130 meters.

Petronas’ Acting Vice President LNG Assets, Development & Production Adnan Zainal Abidin said the first gas milestone signified the start of commissioning and startup for the floating LNG facility that will soon progress towards commercial operations and first cargo.

“We have come a long way with our partners to deliver a game changer in the global LNG business. The shared vision for PFLNG SATU to monetise gas resources uneconomical to develop via conventional means is an achievement all can be proud of,” said Adnan.

PFLNG SATU made its 2,120 nautical mile journey from Okpo, South Korea to the Kanowit gas field on May 14, 2016, for its offshore phase of commissioning.

Fitted with an external turret for water-depths of between 70 meters and 200 meters deep, PFLNG SATU will extract natural gas via a flexible subsea pipeline for the liquefaction, production, storage and offloading processes of LNG at the offshore gas field.

Designed to last up to 20 years without dry-docking, PFLNG SATU has the flexibility to be redeployed to multiple locations to better access marginal and stranded gas fields of Malaysia.