LNG

KBR, the US energy and LNG engineering company, said it was awarded a front-end engineering and design contract by Oman LNG for the debottlenecking of liquefaction facilities at the port of Sur on the Arabian Peninsula.

“This project builds on KBR's extensive track record of developing and implementing LNG projects and providing solutions to complex developments around the world,” said Jay Ibrahim, KBR President for Energy Solution Services.

The Omani facilities export to Japan, South Korea and the spot market and comprise the amalgamated three liquefaction Trains of Oman LNG and Qalhat LNG, now producing more than 10 million tonnes per annum.

The Sultanate has revitalised its LNG production after the Khazzan natural gas discovery by BP and the plants near the port of Sur have been at near nameplate capacity since 2017.

The three Trains had previously suffered from a lack of feed-gas as supplies were diverted to fill domestic gas shortages.

The Omani government allocates Oman LNG feed-gas supplies from various gas fields and the Khazzan field production has ended all resource concerns for the near future.

Houston, Texas-based KBR explained that it would act as an extension to Oman LNG's project team and help manage the overall execution of the debottlenecking efforts, whereby better output can be achieved by fixing inefficiencies, both technical and operational.

“The contract underpins Oman LNG's robust commitment towards knowledge-sharing and boosting staff competency in dealing with such complex projects,” said KBR.

KBR’s Ibrahim said the company was excited to be a part of this important project and to continue to grow and maintain its presence in Oman.

French energy major Total and Oman recently signed an accord for the development of an onshore natural gas block that will provide feed-gas for separate LNG production reserved for LNG fuel for shipping in the Arabian Peninsula.

The deal was signed between Ministry of Oil and Gas of Oman and Total and is linked to the award of exploration licence for onshore Block 12 where there are “significant prospective” gas resources.

Total said it would use its equity gas entitlement as feedstock to develop in Oman a regional hub for LNG bunkering services.

Oman is a major anchorage and stop-over point for tankers and other vessels on trade routes between the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Total has previously outlined plans for its LNG hub project involving a small-scale modular liquefaction plant to be built near the deepwater port of Sohar in the north on the Gulf of Oman.

The Sultanate of Oman, whose LNG liquefaction plant exports cargoes from the port of Sur on the Arabian Peninsula, has signed a sales and purchase agreement with BP to supply shipments to the UK company's Singapore-based trading unit.

Jan 27 (LNGJ) - Three cargoes are being delivered to South Korea in early February. The 135,000 cubic metres capacity “Hyundai Aquapia” will deliver a cargo on February 3 to the Pyeongtaek import terminal from the Qalhat export plant, located in the Middle East sultanate of Oman. The 138,200 cubic metres capacity vessel “Hanjin Ras Laffan” will unload a cargo from Qatar on February 4 at the Incheon import terminal, operated by Korea Gas Corp. The 138,200 “Hanjin Muscat” will deliver a shipment from Oman LNG to the Pyeongtaek terminal on February 7.

Jan 9 (LNGJ) - The 147,100 cubic metres capacity carrier “Ibra LNG” is scheduled to unload a cargo at Pyeongtaek import terminal in South Korea on January 10 from the Qalhat export plant in Oman, according to shipping data. The 138,200 cubic metres capacity vessel “British Innovator”, operated by BP Shipping, is scheduled to deliver a cargo on January 26 to the Tai-Chung import terminal in Taiwan from the Trinidad export plant in the Caribbean.

Oct 27 (LNGJ) - BP of the UK said that phase one of its Khazzan natural gas project in Oman is 80 percent complete and on track to deliver first gas near the end of 2017. BP said combined production from phases one and two of the venture is expected to be 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas a day, equivalent to a third of the current total domestic gas production of LNG exporter Oman. Located on a desert site 350 kilometres south of the capital Muscat, work on the Khazzan tight gas project began in 2014. “It is a significant moment for Oman, with the gas that comes from Khazzan substantially increasing our country’s overall supply and supporting greater diversification of Oman’s industrial base,” said Yousuf Al Ojaili, President of BP in Oman.

The sultanate of Oman said it was rescheduling about 5 percent of its LNG cargo deliveries in 2016 as rising domestic demand affects the amount of feed-gas made available for the nation’s two LNG export plants.