Companies Interested in FLNG As Early As 2018, Says Golar LNG
Golar LNG executed agreements for conversion of the 126,000 m3 LNG carrier Gandria to a Golar floating liquefaction facility (FLNG branded GoFLNG), giving the green light to the third conversion project. The third FLNG will be the result of a cooperation with Singapore's Keppel Shipyard and Black & Veatch.
‘The decision to go ahead with the third conversion project was taken following a thorough review of the growing portfolio of business development opportunities for GoFLNG. This has shown potential demand from several possible customers for delivery of floating liquefaction facilities as early as 2018’ reads a note released on Tuesday.
According to the Bermuda-based company, in the current low oil and gas price environment, the use of the FLNG to develop stranded and associated gas on a fast-track basis has gained momentum as a solution with potential to provide early and robust returns for resource developers and host governments.
‘In parallel with this decision to commit Gandria to the Ophir project, Keppel and Black & Veatch will now update their FEED study, accommodating the deep water operation in Equatorial Guinea on the basis of Gandria. This move will release the Gimi to cover the potential emerging demand for a 2018 GoFLNG project’ explained the company.
In March, Rosneft and Golar signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
‘Within the ambit of the memorandum the parties will analyze the possibility of employing Golar’s advanced FLNG (Floating Liquefaction of Natural Gas) commercialization technologies at Rosneft projects, potentially opening new markets to Rosneft, one of the leading gas producers in the world’ Rosneft wrote.
Earlier this month, France-headquartered Technip said it is anticipating ‘an even more challenging environment in oil & gas’, launching its restructuring plan to save approximately €830 million while confirming its focus on LNG.