Issue
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering,
Vol.31, No.5, 732-743, 2014
Current trends for the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) technologies
Natural gas (NG) and liquefied NG (LNG), which is one trade type of NG, have attracted great attention because their use may alleviate rising concerns about environmental pollution produced by classical fossil fuels and nuclear power plants. However, when gas reserves are located in stranded areas and a portion of the offshore reserves is a significant amount of the total gas reserves, LNG is not suitable because (i) installation of pipelines for the transfer of NG to onshore LNG facilities is expensive and difficult, and (ii) it still has environmental and security problems. As a result, there are many efforts to excavate and monetize these stranded and offshore reserves with floating facilities where offshore liquefaction of NG is possible. Therefore, the development of floating LNG (FLNG) technology is becoming important. Although the FLNG technologies have advantages over conventional LNG technologies, there are still several roadblocks. To overcome the challenges, modular designs related to the main and typical stages of the FLNG process . gas pretreatment, liquefaction and regasification topsides, hulls, mooring, and transfer systems should be enhanced. Regarding FLNG ongoing operations and future plans, there are six nations (Argentina, Brazil, Kuwait, UAE, UK, and USA) operating FLNG, and a variety of FLNG liquefaction projects will be finished soon. Shell and Petrobras are making rapid strides to build FLNG facilities, and Flex LNG, Hoegh LNG, SBM Linde, MODEC, and Saipem are also building their FLNGs. In this review paper, we initially review the LNG concept and compare it with FLNG. In turn, new and typical FLNG technologies are introduced and the main challenges are also explained with insight into how these challenges are overcome. The main market drivers for FLNG industry are also considered.
[References]
  1. World Energy Outlook 2010, International Energy Agency, 2010
  2. Lim W, Choi K, Moon I, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 52(9), 3065, 2013
  3. Kumar S, Kwon HT, Choi KH, Cho JH, Lim W, Moon I, Energy Policy, 39(7), 4097, 2011
  4. Global FLNG market outlook with a touch of FPSO 2011-2017, Douglas-Westwood, 2011
  5. The world FLNG Market Report 2010-2016, Douglas-Westwood, 2009
  6. The world FLNG Market Report 2011-2015, Douglas-Westwood, 2011
  7. Bukowski J, Liu YN, Boccella S, Kowalski L, Proceedings of the International Gas Union Research Conference 2011, Seoul, Korea, 2011
  8. Newton S, Proceedings of the Floating LNG 2011, Perth, Australia, 2011
  9. World LNG Report - 2013 Edition, International Gas Union, 2013
  10. Global LNG - Will new demand and new supply mean new pricing, Ernst & Young, 2013
  11. Mollard F, Proceedings of the 17th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 17), Houston, USA, 2013
  12. Finn AJ, Johnson GL, Tomlinson TR, Hydrocarb. Process., 78(4), 47, 1999
  13. Kirillov NG, Chem. Pet. Eng., 40, 401, 2004
  14. Greer SA, International Bar Association Annual Conference, Chicago, USA, 2006
  15. Kerbers I, Hartnell G, 24th World Gas Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2009
  16. Pettersen J, Nilsen O, Vist S, Giljahus LEN, Fredheim AO, Aasekjaer K, Neeraas BO, Proceedings of the 17th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 17), Houston, USA (2013)., 2013
  17. Pek B, Van der velde H, Proceedings of the 17th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 17), Houston, USA, 2013
  18. Kumar S, Kwon HT, Choi KH, Lim W, Cho JH, Tak K, Moon I, Appl. Energy, 88(12), 4264, 2011
  19. Jamieson D, Johnson P, Redding P, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 12), Perth, Australia, 1998
  20. Pwaga SS, Dissertation MS, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, 2011
  21. Emmitt P, Songhurst B, Proceedings of the Global Forum on Flaring and Venting Reduction and Natural Gas Utilization, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2008
  22. Roberts MJ, Agrawal R, Daugherty TL, US Patent, 6,347,531, 1999
  23. Kahn MS, Lee M, Energy, 49, 146, 2013
  24. Singh A, Hovd M, Proceedings of the 2006 AIChE Annual Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 2006
  25. Bosma P, Nagelvoort RK, Proceedings of the 1st Annual Gas Processing Symposium, Doha, Qatar, 2009
  26. Majzoub M, Dissertation MS, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, 2012
  27. Jensen JB, Skogestad S, Comput. Aided Chem. Eng., 21, 1569, 2006
  28. Hwang JH, Roh MI, Lee KY, Comput. Chem. Eng., 49, 25, 2013
  29. Roberts MJ, Agrawal R, US Patent, 6,269,655, 2001
  30. Venkatarathnam G, Timmerhaus KD, Cryogenic Mixed Refrigerant Processes, Springer, New York, 2008
  31. Almasi A, Aust. J. Mech. Eng., 10, 195, 2012
  32. Wang K, Zhang X, Zhang ZQ, Xu W, Acta Mech. Sin., 28, 870, 2012
  33. Howard JL, Andersen PG, Kvamsdal R, Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, USA, 1979
  34. Tang X, Chen X, Dong Y, Wei X, Yang Q, Appl. Mech. Mater., 291, 843, 2013
  35. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_production_storage_and_offloading.
  36. http://www.tge-marine.com/files/tge_marine_lng_fpso-fsru_presentation_flng_02_2008_rev1_internet.pdf.
  37. Wilkerson SM, Nagarajaiah S, J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng.,131, 021603-1, 2009
  38. Jain RK, Appl. Ocean Res., 17, 1, 1980
  39. Morishita HM, De Souza JR, Proceedings of the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Kitakyushu, Japan, 2002
  40. Guedes SC, Fonseca N, Pascoal R, Proceedings of the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Stavanger, Norway, 2001
  41. Sii HS, Wang J, Eleye-Daturo A, Liu J, Yang JB, Mar. Technol., 42, 88, 2002
  42. Huang K, Judge S, Proceedings of the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, USA, 1996
  43. Howell GB, Duggal AS, Heyl C, Ihonde O, Proceedings of the Leading the World in Deepwater E&P Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition, Abuja, Nigeria, 2006
  44. Zhao W, Yang J, Hu Z, Xie B, Ocean Eng., 57, 150, 2013
  45. Sphaier SH, Fernandes AC, Correa SHS, Castro GAV, J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng., 124, 196, 2002
  46. Koo BJ, Kim MH, Appl. Ocean Res., 27, 292, 2006
  47. Wang Q, Sun LP, Ma S, J. Mar. Sci. Appl., 9, 200, 2010
  48. Koop A, Klaij C, Vaz G, Proceedings of the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Shanghai, China, 2010
  49. Lee DH, Choi HS, J. Mar. Sci. Appl., 10, 53, 2011
  50. Chen HB, Moan T, Haver S, Larsen K, J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng., 126, 235, 2004
  51. Marc C, Proceedings of the 17th International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 17), Houston, USA, 2013