Shell Prelude FLNG - an overview

Shell makes groundbreaking Floating LNG a reality

Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) is a revolutionary technology that will allow Shell to access offshore gas fields that would otherwise be too costly or difficult to develop. Prelude FLNG (100% Shell) is the world’s first FLNG development.

Key facts

Location:	Browse Basin, Australia
Depth:	~250 metres
Category:	Floating liquefied natural gas
Interest:	Shell 100%
Fields:	Prelude and potentially other Shell natural gas assets in the region
FLNG facility production capacity:	At least 5.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquids: 3.6 mtpa of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate and 0.4 mtpa of LPG
Key contractors:	Technip/Samsung Heavy Industries consortium

Current developments

Shell took final investment decision on the Prelude FLNG Project on 20 May, 2011. It will start building a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility to produce and export LNG off the coast of Australia at the site of the gas field.
Over 1.6 million man hours were worked for the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase of development for the Prelude FLNG Project.
Once operational, the Prelude FLNG facility will produce at least 5.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquids: 3.6 mtpa of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate (equivalent to 35,000 bbl/d) and 0.4 mtpa of LPG.
Shell has moved the Prelude FLNG project forward at a rapid pace, with first production of LNG expected some ten years after the gas was discovered. Shell discovered the Prelude gas field in 2007.

Technology

The floating facility will chill natural gas produced at the field to –162°C, shrinking its volume by 600 times so it can be shipped to customers in other parts of the world. Ocean-going carriers will load the LNG as well as other liquid by-products (condensate and LPG) for delivery to market.
The Prelude FLNG facility will be 488m long, 74m wide and will displace around 600,000 tonnes of water. It will be the largest floating offshore facility in the world.
The Prelude FLNG facility will be built at Samsung Heavy Industries’ Geoje Island ship yards in South Korea. The Samsung ship yard is one of the few yards in the world big enough to construct a facility of this size.
Once constructed, the facility will be towed to its location, approximately 475 kilometres north-northeast of Broome, Western Australia. The facility will be moored and hooked up to the undersea infrastructure and the whole production system commissioned.
The Prelude FLNG facility has been designed to withstand the most powerful tropical cyclones. It will remain permanently moored at the location for around 25 years before needing to dock for inspection and overhaul.
The LNG, LPG and condensate produced will be stored in tanks in the hull of the facility. LNG and LPG carriers will moor alongside to offload the products.

Markets

The Prelude FLNG Project is well placed to help meet the growing natural gas demand of Asia.

Environment & society

The project will create around 350 direct and many more indirect jobs. It will also provide taxes and revenue to Australia, create opportunities for local businesses and result in Shell spending billions in capital and operating expenditure.
The Australian Government gave the Prelude FLNG Project environmental approval - opens in new window on November 12, 2010.
The Prelude FLNG Project will use significantly less materials, land and seabed area than developing the same gas via a similar onshore facility.
Developing the gas at the location of the gas field will reduce impact on sensitive coastal habitats as FLNG avoids the need for shoreline pipe crossings, dredging and jetty works. Product carriers will be far from coastal reefs or whale migration routes.