Access to remote gas reserves & benifits of compressed gas technology
Compressed gas liquid
Project “in-service” or “first-gas” dates are important when it comes to developing a gas field. The
quicker an explorer can develop his field and bring on his gas production the quicker he can start
monetizing his gas. Given the modular nature of the process design and if conversion of existing
vessels is envisaged the CGL Carriers in service date can be greatly reduced. With new ship
yards now being made available using new-builds may result in similar expedited project
timelines.
Access to remote or 'stranded' gas reserves will be greatly enhanced with the ability of these
ships to serve smaller and mid-range fields. This is in the national interest of security of supply for
many consuming nations.
The sole requirement for the provision of loading and offloading barges and the associated buoys
connecting to conventional undersea gas pipelines, simplifies in-service needs for platform and
port facilities. The loading barge that is connected to a buoy allows for the raw production gas to
be loaded directly from the wellhead or the flared or associated gas from an FPSO where on it is
processed and conditioned. The offloading barge and associated buoy especially offer
advantages in an era of difficulties in locating receiving terminals.
The ability to 'dial-in' the required gas properties for the offloaded product means that the gas
inter-changeability concerns effecting many markets viewing new supplies of LNG becomes a non
issue.
In many markets, particularly the low BTU specification requirements for the US market,
many constituent mixes of imported gas are restricted as they require some form of blending, or
processing at a cost, to suit trouble free safe burning on existing equipment.
LNG-value-chain
In Korea and Japan
high BTU specification gas is the norm, and some pick-up of high BTU hydrocarbons for blending
is possible on the outward voyage of the Integral gas carrier consigned to load a relatively low
BTU shipment of natural gas. If a shuttle carrier configuration is employed that uses the services
of an Offloading Barge at market, the ability to 'dial-in' the required gas properties for the offloaded
product is maintained.
The route of such deliveries need not be fixed given the flexibility of gas loading and offloading
installations. The commercial possibility of a World spot market for natural gas will without doubt
emerge once these gas carriers enter service.
The improved transportation tariff offered by more effective technology, results in higher 'netbacks'
to producers, which in turn translates to better royalties for producing countries or local
governments. This is the bottom line to the success of this venture, and others with the same
objectives.
Fig:Integral CGL carrier
Conversion to a CGL Carrier
The stability and longitudinal strength aspects of a ship (tanker) conversion to a CGL Carrier do
not appear to present any significant problems, although differing donor vessel types will have
differing ‘issues’ due to the variance in their structural configuration.
The key to
the conversion of an existing single hull oil tanker to a CGL Carrier is in getting adequate cargo
hold floor area for the required containment pipe capacity without stacking the pipes to an
excessive centre of gravity height. Further aspects of a vessel conversion have been studied in
detail, including intact stability, damaged stability, longitudinal strength, sea-keeping, and changes
to the vessel’s equipment and piping. No significant issues have been identified with the above
studies.
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