World LNG projects turning to large gas turbine drivers

Journal Article · · Gas Turbine World; (United States)

OSTI ID:5701297

Farmer, R

Oil and gas producing countries with a surplus of natural gas or gas associated with oil production are aggressively going after the international liquified natural gas export market. Today, there is plenty of associated and natural gas available in countries such as Australia, Nigeria, Algeria and Malaysia, not to mention the Middle East -- so much, that it is still being flared at some fields. The only practical way to move such immense quantities of gas to consuming nations such as Japan (the world's largest LNG purchaser) is by LNG tankers. Tremendous distances and an undersea venue rule out the application of pipeline systems for the most part -- on an economic and engineering basis. As these new LNG projects increase in size, so do the power requirements. Liquefying natural gas requires huge amounts of power for compression and cryogenic refrigeration to reduce gas temperatures down to minus 161[degrees]C to convert gas into a transportable liquid. Petronas is installing single-shaft Frame 6s and 7s to power a 7.5 MMt/y Malaysian LNG facility -- while Woodside Australia has 8xFrame 5 compressor trains averaging 23,000 hours operation each (since 1989 startup) with over 99.8 percent reliability.

• OSTI ID: 5701297
• Journal Information: Gas Turbine World; (United States), Journal Name: Gas Turbine World; (United States) Vol. 22:4; ISSN 0361-3518; ISSN GTWODG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030400* -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
42 ENGINEERING
420205 -- Engineering-- Transport & Storage Facilities-- (1980-)
COMPRESSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS TURBINES
GASES
LIQUEFACTION
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
MACHINERY
NATURAL GAS
OPERATION
PUMPING
PUMPS
RELIABILITY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSPORT
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY