Integrated Strategies for Shipping and Terminal Development Associated With Qatar's LNG Development Strategy(abstract)

摘要

A key to bridging the growing distance between the gas supply and the end market is the development of the next generation of LNG tankers and the terminals needed to regasify the LNG. As the distances increase, the shipping element of the overall project cost can have a significant impact on project economics. It has been estimated that the costs to acquire the necessary transportation could exceed the cost of the liquefaction plant. Increasing the size of these tankers from the traditional 135-140,000 m~3 reduces both the initial investment (need fewer ships) as well as the unit operating costs. Qatar has led the way in working with classification societies, equipment vendors, technology licensors and builders to develop and qualify LNG Tankers with increased sizes ranging from 210,000 m~3 (called QFlex) up to 265,000 m~3 (called QMax) with an intermediate sized vessel approximately 243,000 m~3 (called SFlex). These vessels will also incorporate twin slow speed diesel engines and on-board re-liquefaction plants that will virtually eliminate cargo loss through LNG boil off. Qatar has developed an integrated fleet strategy that balances the economies of these next generation LNG Tankers with the flexibility desired for worldwide terminal access. Extensive and detailed port compatibility studies for these larger vessels have been conducted and continue to be revised. To ensure liquid market access, RasGas' & Qatargas' shareholders have demonstrated a willingness to move downstream and invest both in existing as well as grass roots development in the terminals that will return the LNG to its gaseous state. This "New Era" for Qatar redefines the "Integrated Value Chain" model and completes the value chain from the Qatari wellhead to gas delivery into the consumer grid, all under the umbrella of Qatar Petroleum (QP), its partners and the LNG ventures RasGas and Qatargas. The Adriatic LNG Terminal will be the world's first offshore LNG storage and regasification facility expected to be completed in the first half of 2008. Located in the Northern Adriatic, 17 km offshore Porto Levante, Italy, this facility will provide regasification capacity for approximately 800 mmscfd of gas into the Italian market. This structure, owned by affiliates of QP 45%, ExxonMobil 45% and Edison 10% (Italy's second largest power supplier), will employ a unique application of proven technology in the structure itself and new technology in the 250 km~3 internal tanks that will store the offloaded LNG. The base of the structure will be a large hollow block made of concrete, called a Gravity Based Structure or GBS. Two internal tanks using proprietary modular tank technology will store the liquid LNG in the base of the structure, while facilities to regasify the LNG will be on top of the GBS. The GBS will be constructed in a dry casting basin in Spain and when completed including tanks and regasification facilities, will then be floated into place offshore Italy and ballasted to the ocean floor in about 30m (98 feet) of water where it will remain. A more traditional technology will be employed for two onshore terminals to be built by QP and ExxonMobil. In the United Kingdom, they are developing an LNG receiving terminal in South Wales. The South Hook Terminal will be able to receive, store & regasify 2.1 bscfd (or 15.6 MTA LNG), has 2 LNG Ship Berths, 5 - 155,000 m~3 storage tanks, and will require approximately 130km pipeline to connect to the UK grid. This facility is designed to take advantage of the larger LNG Tankers in the Qatar fleet. The second onshore terminal is planned for the US Gulf Coast near the Louisiana and Texas state border on the Sabine-Neches waterway. This facility called Golden Pass, will also accommodate up to five 155,000 m~3 storage tanks and initially be able to process over 1.0 bscf of gas each day, with the option to expand this capacity to over 2.0 bscfd. Unlike many of the existing terminals in the United States, this facility,