Samsung Heavy Industries develops next-generation FLNG

South Korean shipbuilding company Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has developed a next-generation floating liquefied natural gas production facility (FLNG) model.

It announced that it has received Approval in Principle (AiP) for an FLNG floater independent model (MLF-N, a multi-purpose LNG floater-nearshore) from classification society DNV on 1 May.

SHI said that MLF-N is its strategic product, considering markets looking for a faster and more economical FLNG model than onshore plants.

It pointed out that MLF-N standardises shapes of LNG cargos, and widths and heights of hulls surrounding them, so the cargos’ capacity could be easily extended from 180,000 m3 to 245,000 m3.

It further noted that it is designed with a stable structure to support about 50,000 tonnes of upper plant facilities including natural gas liquefaction modules, and in addition, it standardises optimal specifications of major equipment mounted on the hull, drastically shortening an engineering period.

SHI informed it is applying some of the designs of MLF-N to Petronas FLNG, which it recently won, and is actively doing MLF-N business activities to win overseas ongoing gas field development projects.

Haeki Jang, CTO of SHI, stated: “MLF-N is the best solution to meet customers’ needs who want easy, simple, and fast LNG development. We will continue to take a lead in FLNG through customer-oriented technology innovation.”

SHI noted it has won four out of five new orders for FLNG vessels placed worldwide and is expecting additional orders as it has participated in the FEED work of a number of FLNG projects currently under discussion.