FLNG keel laying process begins

The keel laying process for Petronas’ first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, PFLNG 1, commenced earlier this week, according to a company official. This marks another significant milestone in the construction of the facility at the DSME shipyard in Okpo, South Korea.

The first block of the keel, which consists of the basic structure around which the hull of the FLNG vessel will be built, was laid on 6^th January in the presence of the project team led by Petronas and its partners, Technip and DSME.

“The keel laying signifies yet another significant achievement of the project in its construction phase,” said Abdullah Karim, Petronas’ vice president and venture director of LNG Projects – Domestic, Gas & Power Business.

“We would like to thank the project teams for their perseverance and dedication that led to this milestone in a safe manner, in line with our plans and expectations,” he added.

The construction of the PFLNG 1 facility, which commenced in June 2013, is expected to be completed in Q4 2015.

When operational, the facility will weigh approximately 125 000 tons and will measure 365 m in length, equivalent to three times the length of an NFL football field. The facility will also be the first to use the dual row cargo containment system to ensure limited sloshing within its hull.

The PFLNG 1 facility will be located in Malaysia’s Kanowit gas field, 111 miles offshore Sarawak. It is expected to produce 1.2 million tpa of LNG and will be crucial to Petronas’ plans to unlock the gas reserves offshore Malaysia.

Edited from various sources by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/08012014/flng_keel_laying_process_commences_17/