Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply is projected to grow 4.5% per year to 2030, over twice the rate of gas production (2.1%) and faster than inter-regional pipeline trade (3.0%) (BP, 2012). Since the Millennium, challenges in LNG design drove machine manufacturers to design larger machines primarily utilizing gas turbines. Plant capacities in the past decade grew from 3.5 to 5.5 million tons per annum (MPTA) primarily due to the availability of large gas fields. Today, smaller remote gas fields combined with market drivers such as limited pipeline availability, dropping spot prices, increased reserves, and reduced capital budgets, have forced end users to rethink design. Although higher train capacities drive economies of scale, the challenge arises when building smaller plants and lowering costs. Stranded natural gas, such as US and Chinese shale gas, makes LNG the most feasible means to transport and deliver energy to market. Through plant design standardization and increased equipment efficiencies, producers can achieve the best balance of economics, speed to market, and process flexibility. Recent projects have shown integrally geared compressors (IGC) to be advantageous for small scale liquefaction. Design considerations such as zero refrigerant loss, high plant operational efficiency, use of electric drivers, and appropriate specifications will be addressed.
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