Thursday 25 September 2014

Petronas closer to completing world’s first floating LNG facility in S. Korea

The first topside module is to be installed on Petronas' floating liquefied natural gas facility which is being constructed at Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering shipyard in Okpo, South Korea. - Petronas

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has commenced the lifting of the first topside module for its floating liquefied natural gas (PFLNG1) facility at the Quayside of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in Okpo, South Korea.

The topside module lifting marks another major construction milestone for the facility, as it signifies the near completion of the PFLNG1, which will be the world’s first floating LNG facility in operation.

The topside module, on which power generation and control functions instruments are to be installed, weighs about 2,000 tonnes.

A 3,600-tonne marine crane was used to conduct the lifting operation by DSME.

It said in a statement there were 20 remaining modules weighing about 40,000 tonnes that were to be installed on the hull and that the topside module lifting was scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2015.

Petronas vice-president and venture director of LNG projects – domestic Datuk Abdullah Karim said: “It is meaningful that the PFLNG1 construction is approaching another step closer towards successfully becoming the world’s first operational floating LNG facility, with the first module lifting achieved on the 13th month since commencement of topsides construction.

“The topside is the heart of this floating LNG facility where pre-treatment and liquefaction process for the gas will be carried out,” he said. – Bernama