Golar lines up third GoFLNG conversion

Golar LNG Limited informed that it has executed agreements for conversion of the 126,000 m3 LNG carrier Gandria to a Golar floating liquefaction facility.

As with the GoFLNG Hilli and Gimi conversions, the primary contract for the GoFLNG Gandria was entered into with Singapore’s Keppel Shipyard Limited, the company revealed in a statement.

The Gandria conversion contract marks the exercise of the second of two options that formed part of the initial 2014 Hilli conversion contract. Black & Veatch will provide its licensed PRICO technology, perform detailed engineering and process design, specify and procure topside equipment, and provide commissioning support for the GoFLNG topsides and liquefaction process.

“The decision to go ahead with the third conversion project was taken following a thorough review of the growing portfolio of business development opportunities for GoFLNG. This has shown potential demand from several possible customers for delivery of floating liquefaction facilities as early as 2018. In order to respond to this potential, the Gandria conversion will be dedicated to satisfy the commitments to Ophir in Equatorial Guinea, covered by the agreement revealed in May this year, requiring delivery of GoFLNG facilities in 2019,” the company said.

In parallel with this decision to commit Gandria to the Ophir project, Keppel and Black & Veatch will update their FEED study, accommodating the deep water operation in Equatorial Guinea on the basis of Gandria. This move will release the Gimi to cover the potential emerging demand for a 2018 GoFLNG project.

In the current low oil and gas price environment the use of the GoFLNG concept to develop stranded and associated gas on a fast-track basis has gained momentum, Golar said. The GoFLNG business model with a fixed tariff structure reduces the project execution and capex risks for the resource holder and provides a flexible alternative when compared to development of more conventional long lead-time, capital intensive, land-based LNG facilities.

The GoFLNG Gandria conversion contract will become effective by September 21.  To achieve effectiveness, Golar will make an initial payment to Keppel and Black & Veatch and will have until December 2016 to issue a full notice to proceed with the conversion. As with the Gimi conversion contract, the Gandria contract provides similar beneficial cancellation provisions, which if exercised before December 2016 will allow termination of the contracts after deduction of a set cancellation fee.

The recently agreed financing for the Hilli project and the flexible terms in the yard contracts for the Gimi and Gandria projects mean that Golar does not expect to raise any additional equity in connection with the ordering of the GoFLNG Gandria. Currently Golar is working with a schedule which includes delivery of GoFLNG Hilli in Q1 2017, GoFLNG Gimi around mid-year 2018, and GoFLNG Gandria H1-2019. This schedule assumes that the Perenco contract is fully executed before September 30, 2015 and that the Ophir contract is executed prior to June 30, 2016.

In addition to signing the third contract, Golar, Keppel and Black & Veatch have agreed to work out acceptable structures for further GoFLNG facilities.

Image: Keppel