COMPREHENSIVE EVALUTIONS OF LNG TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY FOR OFFSHORE LNG DEVELOPMENT EVALUATIONS APPROFONDIES DE LA TECHNOLOGIE DE TRANSFERT DE GNL POUR LES DEVELOPPEMENTS DE GNL OFFSHORE

摘要

Future development of LNG projects, whether for LNG export or LNG import, in offshore locations around the globe demand a critical and comprehensive evaluation of the current slate of available technologies for offshore LNG transfer. The transfer of LNG between floating offshore facilities and LNG carrier is arguably the weakest link of the total chain for offshore LNG development. Since the strength of a chain is only as strong as its weakest component, current offshore technology research and development efforts are concentrating their efforts on LNG transfer systems and technologies. Since the there is a spectrum of offshore LNG transfer technologies being developed by private companies or through joint industrial projects (JIPs), and the urgency of linking these developments to the evolving floating offshore LNG export or receiving terminal projects, a comprehensive comparison and critical evaluation of these emerging offshore LNG transfer technologies was initiated by ChevronTexaco in 2000 and continues today. This paper presents a review of currently available offshore LNG transfer technologies and then presents a methodology of evaluation based on the total system design, safety and operability, equipment integrity, testing and certification and economics and timing to market. Results of the evaluation presented herein represent a snap shot of current status from the point of view of an operator evaluating offshore LNG terminals.