FLEX LNG announced the start of the project specific Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) for an FLNG project that would liquefy natural gas from the onshore Elk and Antelope gas fields in the Gulf Province in Papua New Guinea.
Samsung Heavy Industries will carry out the FEED work for the hull portion of the FLNG vessel, whilst a WorleyParsons lead JV together with Kanfa Aragon will carry out the FEED work for the topsides. Samsung Heavy Industries will remain overall responsible for the overall design, engineering, construction and commissioning of the FLNG vessel. FEED is scheduled to be completed in time for the project to reach a Final Investment Decision (FID) before the end of 2011. Commencement of operations in PNG is targeted for 2014. FLEX LNG has already completed a generic FEED in 2009. The FLNG vessel is expected to be moored alongside a jetty, which will be shared with LNGL’s land-based LNG facilities, and have a nominal production capacity of close to 2.7 bcm/year of LNG. FLEX LNG will be joint operator of the FLNG unit together with LNGL, which is a joint venture between InterOil and Pacific LNG. During the 25-year production contract, LNGL will become a part owner of the FLNG vessel.