LNG液化プラント設備の開発動向（中小規模LNG液化プラントの開発）

摘要

21世紀は“天然ガス”の時代と言われ，その代表的エrnネルギー源であり，他の化石燃料と比べ環境への影響がrn優しい天然ガス・LNGであるが，日本・韓国のようなLNGrn輸入依存国の輸入量が頭打ちになってきた一方で，中国rnなど新たな輸入国が増えてきた。%In 2008, the WTI Crude Oil Index reached a maximum level of USD 130/bbl and the LNG spot price was 25 USD/MMBTU. An LNG price as high this would appear to support a trend toward investment in new LNG Liquefaction Plant projects. However, an abundance of FIDs in new projects was not seen; in fact, the number of FIDs was very limited. The principal reasons have been the inflated plant cost and uncertainty of future economics as the balance of supply vs demand for the energy, especially the LNG trade. Baseload LNG projects require a very large amount of investment for exploration/production, upstream facilities including submarine pipelines and the LNG liquefaction plant itself. Projects are organized as joint ventures or a multi-shareholder group from the standpoint of risk-sharing and it is difficult to achieve the common direction required for the project to smoothly proceed. Meanwhile, numbers of small/medium gas wells/ reservoirs remain stranded and are not developed for economic and/or technology-based reasons. In order to contribute to solutions for this business area and to break through the current inactive market, a small/ medium size LNG liquefaction plant with the clear concept of "SPEED-REPEAT-COMPACT" is proposed by LNG super-builder JGC and Top LNG Process Licenser APCI. A brief explanation and target is provided.