Prelude FLNG on schedule for 2018 start-up

Shell’s Prelude FLNG, world’s largest offshore facility, is set for completion and startup in 2018, despite a fatal incident that happened at the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard earlier this week.

The construction of the giant facility started back in 2012. Once completed, it will be deployed offshore Australia and will produce 3,6 million tons of LNG annually by using natural gas from the offshore Prelude and Concerto Gas Fields located approximately 475 km North-North East of Broome.

During a conference call on the first quarter 2017 results, Shell’s CFO Jessica Uhl was asked about the progress of the construction of the Prelude FLNG.

Uhl said Prelude remained on-schedule: “…we’ve indicated that start-up was in 2018 and we remain confident in that timing.”

She said here was a disruption that happened at the yard because of “a very unfortunate incident.”

Uhl was referring to a fatal incident when six people were killed and over 20 injured on Monday after a crane collapsed at Samsung Heavy Industries’ shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, during a construction of Total’s Martin Linge topsides. All work at the shipyard was stopped

During the call Shell CFO expressed condolences for those impacted, and highlighted the incident had nothing to do with Shell’s assets.

She added that the Prelude project itself was progressing well and “the timeline for 2018 remains a good timeline.”

After the completion of all work at the shipyard in South Korea, the FLNG facility will be towed to its operating location offshore of Western Australia. Posh Terasea will conduct the tow using five vessels. Once at location the facility will be moored and connected to the undersea infrastructure and the whole production system commissioned.

Offshore Energy Today Staff