Honeywell to help clean energy production facility
Honeywell has announced that it will provide an Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS) for the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction, regasification and storage unit (FLRSU) for the Exmar-Pacific Rubialis Energy project offshore Columbia.
With an increase in demand for alternative cleaner energy, the project will help to supply natural gas to energy users across the world. Natural gas is the world’s fastest growing energy source, with demand expected to increase by almost 2% annually up to 2035, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Unconventional gas, including natural gas in remote locations such as offshore, will account for approximately a third of that increase. Floating LNG facilities allow companies to unlock these gas reserves.
Groundbreaking project
“Honeywell’s extensive experience in LNG shipping and offshore was a key factor for our partners in this project,” said David Higgins, director marine, Honeywell Process Solutions. “We are working with Black & Veatch on topside pre-treatment and liquefaction processes and with Wison for the barge, cargo tanks and utilities. Thus, we are bringing our process controls and marine experience together in this groundbreaking project which will be the first to produce LNG in the offshore environment.”
The vessel is a non-propelled barge equipped to convert natural gas into LNG. It is also able to store the LNG for offloading to shuttle tankers or LNG carriers. LNG takes up about 1/600th the volume of natural gas in a gaseous state and allows companies like Exmar to transport the product more efficiently to its customers.
Clean energy sources
“While the industry continues to discuss the potential of floating LNG facilities in bringing new sources of clean energy to market, this partnership enables us to bring the right technology and approach to make production of LNG at sea a commercial reality,” said Greg Wayne, project manager at Black & Veatch. “We chose Honeywell because of its strong presence in LNG marine applications.”
The FLRSU will be constructed at Wison Offshore & Marine’s fabrication yard in Nantong, China, with Black & Veatch providing the topside LNG plant design as well as LNG equipment and components. International ship management group Exmar will own and operate the FLRSU in the Caribbean Sea starting in the first quarter of 2015.
“We are extremely pleased to introduce this innovation into the LNG industry,” said Exmar CEO Nicolas Saverys. “Exmar is the first operator to do regasification onboard a ship, and we are the first one doing ship-to-ship liquid transfer. Now, with the FLRSU, we will be the first one to do floating LNG liquefaction, enabling us to bring previously untapped gas to consumers at a time when the world wants cleaner fuels.”
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward
Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/22102013/honeywell_to_help_clean_energy_production_facility_340/
You might also like
TotalEnergies signs agreement to acquire remaining 50% of SapuraOMV
SapuraOMV’s main assets are its 40% operated interest in block SK408 and 30% operated interest in block SK310, both located offshore Sarawak in Malaysia.
