Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to EXMAR for its Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) concept based on the conversion of an existing membrane-type LNG carrier, supporting the development of offshore gas resources through a flexible and cost-effective floating liquefaction solution.
The EXMAR design converts an existing membrane-type LNG carrier into a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) unit intended for operation in mild environments. The converted facility is designed to enable offshore gas processing, liquefaction and LNG storage, offering a flexible and cost-effective approach to gas monetization.
By leveraging the conversion of an existing LNG carrier rather than a newbuild vessel, the concept offers a practical approach to reducing development schedules and capital investment while providing a flexible solution for offshore gas developments.
The FLNG concept is based on a membrane-type LNG carrier with an effective LNG storage capacity of approximately 170,000 m³ and a design life of 25 years. The facility is intended to unlock stranded gas resources, aiming at projects with low initial capital costs, a shorter timeline from final investment decision to production, and high efficiency requirements.
The concept has been assessed against applicable Bureau Veritas requirements for offshore production gas units based on those from offshore, liquefied gas carriers position keeping systems. The review focused at this time on the hull structure and stability, the existing LNG cargo containment system, and the FLNG mooring arrangement.
The AiP demonstrates the potential viability of adapting existing membrane LNG carrier assets into floating liquefaction facilities, providing an alternative pathway for the development of offshore gas resources while supporting efficient project execution and diversifying energy supply.