Name of the Project
Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project.

Location
Australia.

Client
Shell (67.5%) is the operator of the Prelude FLNG project, in joint venture with Inpex (17.5%), Kogas (10%) and Opic (5%); and working with long-term strategic partners Technip and Samsung Heavy Industries (the Technip Samsung Consortium).

Project Description
The Prelude FLNG facility will be deployed in Australian waters more than 200 km from the nearest point on the coast and will remain in operation for about 25 years.

The FLNG project will enable Shell to produce natural gas at sea, turn it into LNG and then transfer it directly to ships that will transport it to customers. It will allow for the development of gas resources ranging from clusters of smaller, more remote fields to potentially larger fields through multiple facilities where, owing to various reasons, an onshore development is not viable. This can mean faster, cheaper and more flexible development and deployment strategies for resources that were previously uneconomic or constrained by technical or other risks.

The facility has been designed to withstand the severest cyclones – up to Category 5. Ocean-going LNG carriers will offload other products and liquefied gas, chilled to –162 °C and shrunk in volume 600 times, directly from the facility out at sea for delivery to markets worldwide. Until now, the liquefaction of offshore gas has always involved piping the gas to a land-based plant. The facility will produce at least 5.3-million tonnes a year of liquids, comprising 3.6-million tonnes a year of LNG, 1.3-million tonnes a year of condensate (equivalent to 35 000 bbl/d) and 400 000 t/y of liquefied petroleum gas.

When completed, the facility will be 488 m long and 74 m wide, making it the largest offshore floating facility ever built. When fully equipped and with its cargo tanks full, it will weigh more than 600 000 t. There will be more than 3 000 km of electrical and instrumentation cables, the distance from Barcelona to Moscow, on the FLNG facility.

Jobs To Be Created
Not stated.

Value
The project will cost an estimated $12-billion.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The FLNG facility for the Prelude operation has left South Korea on its way to Australia.

On arrival at the Prelude offshore gasfield, off the shore of Western Australia, the preinstalled mooring chains will be lifted from the seabed and secured onto the facility, followed by a commissioning process.

First cash flow from the project was expected in 2018.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Technip Samsung Consortium (lead contractor), JGC Corporation (construction management and completion support services).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Shell International media relations, tel +44 20 7934 5550.
Shell Australia Media Relations, tel +61 417 007 344.