KEY POINTS
- Saipem has unveiled standardised FLNG solutions designed to simplify and speed up offshore LNG projects.
- FLNGenius can produce up to 4 million tonnes of LNG annually from large conventional gas fields.
- ZR-FLNG targets smaller, remote and associated gas fields with annual capacity of up to 1.5 million tonnes.
Italy’s Saipem is introducing a new range of standardised floating liquefied natural gas, FLNG, facilities designed to simplify project development, shorten delivery timelines and unlock gas resources that may be difficult to develop using conventional infrastructure.
The engineering and energy services company is expected to showcase the solutions at Gastech in Bangkok, Thailand, as it seeks to expand its role in the growing FLNG market.
Saipem’s new portfolio builds on its previous experience developing bespoke FLNG projects. The company said its shift towards standardised designs is aimed at reducing project complexity while improving cost and schedule predictability, safety and operational efficiency.
One of the main solutions, called FLNGenius, has been developed for large conventional gas fields and can produce between 3 million and 4 million tonnes of LNG per year.
The facility uses a modular, plug-and-play architecture that allows major components to be standardised while retaining enough flexibility to adapt the system to different offshore locations and gas reservoirs.
Saipem said FLNGenius incorporates a standardised gas treatment system and can integrate different liquefaction technologies. This is intended to make the facility suitable for a broad range of gas compositions and site conditions.
The ability to process gas and produce LNG offshore can also reduce the need for extensive onshore infrastructure, potentially making remote offshore developments more commercially attractive.
Smaller FLNG targets stranded gas
Saipem is also targeting smaller and more challenging gas resources with its second solution, ZR-FLNG.
The facility is designed for associated gas fields and remote reservoirs that have often remained undeveloped or underutilised because conventional development methods can be too complex or expensive.
ZR-FLNG has an LNG production capacity of between 500,000 and 1.5 million tonnes per year, giving operators an option for developing fields that may not justify a much larger conventional LNG project.
The system is based on Saipem’s Liqueflex 2.0 liquefaction technology, which uses zero imported liquid refrigerant, a feature reflected in the ZR-FLNG name.
Saipem said the approach is intended to provide greater flexibility for projects where access to infrastructure, logistics and conventional LNG development systems may be limited.
The company’s LNG technology portfolio has also been strengthened by technology and intellectual property acquired from Gasconsult.
Saipem said the transaction gives it access to proprietary technologies, patents and technical know-how related to cryogenic liquefaction.
According to the company, its expanded technology platform includes liquefaction solutions using nitrogen alone, natural gas alone, or a combination of both as refrigerants.
