FLNG, a simple way to open Pandora's Box

摘要

The Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project is due for first gas in 2017 and other projects are in the pipeline to take up the FLNG concept. These indicate that FLNG is now seen as a viable solution to access remote gas resources, of varying size, avoiding the infrastructure expenditure associated with long gas transmission pipelines and onshore processing and export facilities. A number of other developments are considering the FLNG concept for gas development due to the perceived simplicity from design, control and operability perspectives. FLNG however, brings with it many challenges and when detailed engineering commences it can feel like opening Pandora's Box. Design and operability issues are driven by the proximity of complex reservoir behaviour and the intricate processing equipment associated with offshore FLNG which, amongst others, can regularly lead to production disruption and complex operability issues. The paper provides an overview of FLNG, its potential challenges and the associated solutions, so you end up with the Holy Grail rather than Pandora's Box.