LNG

QatarEnergy said that as part of its LNG expansion project it awarded the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for the offshore portion of its North Field feed-gas project to Houston, Texas-based firm McDermott Inc.

The expansion project will increase the state of Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 million tonnes per annum to 126 MTPA, through the North Field East (NFE) and North Field South (NFS) development ventures with first LNG expected in 2025.

QatarEnergy explained that the scope for the contract includes 13 normally unmanned wellhead platforms topsides (eight for NFE and five for NFS), in addition to various connecting pipelines and the shore approaches for the NFE pipelines, beach valve stations and buildings.

The Qataris added that the jackets and the pipelines for the NFS Project will be subject to a separate tender which is expected to be awarded in the first half of 2022.

“The award of this major EPCI contract is a momentous milestone that demonstrates QatarEnergy’s commitment to delivering our LNG expansion projects on time and to ensure the significant additional global LNG demand is catered for in a timely manner,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and the President and chief Executive of QatarEnergy.

“This contract also reinforces our excellent relationship with McDermott,” added Al-Kaabi.

“We are confident that the effective collaboration between QatarEnergy, Qatargas and McDermott will result in the safe and successful delivery of the project according to plan,” stated the CEO.

Al-Kaabi added that the QatarEnergy affiliate Qatargas, which has a proven history of delivering such major projects, has been entrusted with executing this mega project on behalf of QatarEnergy.​

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the CEO of Qatargas, and to both the Qatargas and QatarEnergy teams for their significant efforts and contributions that resulted in the successful and timely execution of this contract,” Al-Kaabi declared.

The scope of the first phase of the expansion at the Ras Laffan production complex involves an additional four Trains, each with 8.0 MTPA of output.

Qatar has the southern portion of the North Field in Gulf waters and the other part is under the jurisdiction of neighbouring Iran.

Qatargas Operating Company has awarded Italian energy and LNG engineering company Saipem additional work worth $350 million within the North Field Production offshore project in the Arab Gulf underpinning the Qatar LNG expansion.

Global liquefied natural gas export plants marginally increased their cargo liftings as North Asia spot prices dropped along with those in Europe, while other energy markets were underpinned by higher crude oil prices on prospects more nations will be fully relaunching their economies.

A trading chronicle of the last month of LNG shipbroking activities captured the revival of the North Asian markets with the “miraculous upward trajectory” of LNG prices, helped by a variety of factors such as plant outages in all Basins, South Korean coal caps, Chinese coal restrictions, while favourable arbitrage conditions were further helped by hold-ups in the Panama Canal.

Excelerate Energy, the US company that led the global development of floating LNG import terminals, has completed the successful transition of its entire fleet of floating storage and regasification units to Excelerate Technical Management.

“Congratulations to our ship management team overseeing this effort and the 600 plus seafarers that supported,” said Steven Kobos, President and Chief Executive of Excelerate Energy.

“Transitioning 10 ships in 10 months is a tremendous accomplishment in any year, but especially in 2020,” added Kobos.

“Through ETM, we look forward to continuing to provide the seamless service our customers have come to know and expect,” he stated.

Excelerate began transitioning its fleet in February 2020 with the FSRU “Experience” after the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Government of Belgium awarded Interim Documents of Compliance (DoC) under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code to ETM.

Excelerate completed the transition of the 10th and final FSRU “Excellence” on October 28.
As each FSRU undergoes scheduled maintenance and upgrades, Excelerate plans to repaint its vessels in the corporate brand colors and design.

“At Excelerate, we hold ourselves to the highest standards, and this transition gives us an opportunity to enhance our already rigorous safety management programs,” said Cal Bancroft, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Excelerate.

“It also demonstrates our commitment to stewardship, accountability, improvement, and leadership and providing more flexible and seamless services to clients,” added Bancroft.

Excelerate explained that with the transition to the new ship management subsidiary, customers can continue to expect
consistency of operations and high performance of personnel development, both seagoing and shore-based.

Houston-based Excelerate began developing its ETM ship management services in February 2020.

In early June 2020, it named Bancroft as the COO to help oversee the unit.

He holds a B.S. in Nautical Science from Maine Maritime Academy and an M.B.A. in International Business and Marketing Management from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He also served in the US Naval Reserve. 

Petrofac, the London-based oil and gas services company, said it would be reimbursed by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for all costs incurred after the cancellation of two contracts worth US$1.5 billion for the Dalma natural gas project.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is set to start commercial operations at its floating LNG import facility near Khalifa Bin Salman Port with partners including Teekay LNG, while pursuing exploration and production activities to find more gas.

Qatar Petroleum said it would now raise production capacity to 126 million tons per annum by 2027, an additional 16 MTPA from the previous expansion plan and a 64 percent increase on the current 77 MTPA of output at the Ras Laffan plant in the Gulf.

Qatar Petroleum said its decision to self-finance the North Field natural gas and Ras Laffan LNG expansion, to tender for contractors and drill appraisal wells before offering partnerships was part of its strategy to show the value of its assets.

Aug 1 (LNGJ) - Fleet owner Teekay LNG said it was looking forward to second-half revenues from Bahrain LNG import operations in the Gulf from its stake in the project and its 20-charter agreement for the 173,000 cubic metres capacity “Bahrain Spirit” floating storage unit (FSU).

   Bahrain's first LNG terminal is near the existing breakwater at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port. It includes the FSU provided by Teekay and a regasification platform. The project is owned by four companies, including the Gulf state’s National Oil & Gas Authority, Teekay, South Korea’s Samsung C&T and the Gulf Investment Corp.

   Mark Kremin, Teekay Gas Group President and Chief Executive, said he expected financial results for the second half of 2019 to improve with new charters, the delivery of another three 50 percent-owned newbuilds for the Yamal LNG project in Russia and the start-up of the Bahrain LNG regasification terminal.