Gastech to Explore Diversification of LNG Concepts (The Netherlands)

The diversification of LNG concepts will be explored in depth at the 25th Gastech Conference & Exhibition in Amsterdam, next month. Gastech 2011 will spotlight innovations in LNG production and delivery, reflecting momentous changes the industry has experienced in its evolution over recent years, and how this may affect the future.

With the increasing global demand for energy and cost effective solutions, Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) are currently at the cutting edge of innovation and research in the gas industry. In particular, Gastech will address the not-too distant prospect of the launch of LNG FPSOs.

An LNG FPSO vessel, complete with onboard LNG processing and export facilities, will have the capacity to store around 100,000 cubic metres of LNG whilst awaiting export tankers for offloading, making it a flexible and viable development solution for a number of different offshore field situations, especially in deepwater and remote areas.

Hosted by Shell, Gastech 2011 Conference papers will explore new technologies, projects and case studies in this sector, and provide an overview of developments in the gas industry. Industry experts will present research and recommendations from previous project execution and operation experience, invaluable to the future of FPSOs and LNG production.

Kanfa Aragon will present a case study that will “provide an in-depth overview of offshore liquefaction system design criteria, general evaluations and challenges relating to the engineering and design of an LNG FPSO topside,” said Inga Bettina Waldmann, Manager of Business Development, Kanfa Aragon.

ConocoPhillips will discuss The Belanak FPSO Project, five years of successful operation and its application to floating LNG. The paper will address many technical, commercial and operational challenges that have been overcome in order to conclude the first phase of the development, providing valuable insight for LNG FPSO developers. The Belanak FPSO represents a critical technical step in unleashing offshore stranded gas around the world.

WorleyParsons will present a paper at Gastech pertaining to “The Seamless Integration of Subsea Architecture with Floating LNG: Issues, Challenges & Solutions,” for FLNG deployment. The paper will reveal a suite of recommendations that will measurably enhance the uptime and process performance of LNG FPSOs through the seamless integration of the subsea and topsides element.

Exploring ‘LNG markets: dealing with post-crisis context and rising LNG production,’ GDF SUEZ will investigate complex issues in relation to the gas bubble caused by the economic crisis. The paper will also explore the evolution of LNG demand in the short/mid/long term and prices. Additionally, it will consider the development of innovative commercial and technical practices such as floating storages or regasification vessels, and the potential for new liquefaction projects during the current decade.

Gastech 2011 will examine FPSO operational issues such as maintenance and ageing in its ‘Safety and Sustainability’ themed stream of seminars, as part of the Centres of Technical Excellence (CoTEs) on the exhibition-floor. This will include, ‘Advances in Process Systems Safety Design & Fire Integrity,’ presented by Petrell and ‘Gas Measurement, Supporting Sustainability, Enterprise Financials and Decision Making,’ by Telvent.

Gastech is a highly regarded global gas conference and exhibition, where leading technical gas experts will examine key developments in the gas industry. With an extensive range of quality technical and commercial papers, Gastech 2011 will provide an in depth analysis of potential future directions within the LNG Industry.

[mappress]

Source: Gastech, February 23, 2011;