GE Oil & Gas provides technology and funding for Freeport LNG

GE Oil & Gas said it is providing both technology and capital to help expedite construction of the Freeport LNG gas liquefaction and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Southeast Texas.

GE is supplying the main refrigeration compressors, variable-speed drive electric motors and other electrical equipment for two customized LNG liquefaction trains, each of which will produce a base volume of 4.4 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG. In addition, GE is providing financing to support the project through pre-construction engineering and design.

In a transformation of its energy fortunes, the shale gas boom gives the United States the potential to become one of the globe’s largest LNG exporters. Freeport LNG will play a vital role in maximizing the value of this abundant and affordable shale gas, becoming the first world-scale electric liquefied natural gas (eLNG) plant in North America. Using GE’s electric motor driven technology has enabled Freeport LNG to comply with strict local emissions standards and support its ambitious LNG production and export targets.

GE will supply two liquefaction trains with an integrated solution consisting of:

• Six centrifugal compressors;
• Six 75-megawatt (MW) synchronous electric motors including the largest electric motor ever supplied for an LNG facility;
• Six variable speed drives (LCI technology);
• Electrical equipment such as gas insulated switchgear, MCC, harmonic filters, e-houses and auxiliary electrical equipment;
• Integrated LNG plant and power grid modelling coordinated protection and control development, power quality evaluation and power system design verification studies.

The Freeport LNG project is unique in electric power systems design and implementation. The plant will feature all-electric drive compression directly connected at the utility incoming transmission voltage level. The power systems engineering study and design for Freeport uses the deep power systems expertise of GE’s Energy Consulting team.

GE has invested heavily in its capabilities for high-powered and more complex mechanical-electrical systems, now delivered in the eLNG sector. GE can provide the option for LNG projects to use existing electric power or to build their own combined-cycle power plants that can power electric motor-driven refrigeration systems.

With its extensive investing experience in LNG and midstream, GE Energy Financial Services was able to bring the expertise required to provide a unique financing solution for Freeport LNG. GE Energy Financial Services underwrote a loan and subsequently secured three additional lenders, allowing the project to expedite equipment orders and permit approval.

GE will build and package the refrigeration trains in Florence, Italy and tests will be conducted in Massa, Italy. They are due to be delivered in Texas in 2016 and be fully operational by 2017.

Press Release, September 10, 2014; Image: Freeport LNG