Not a video game abbreviation but a new age and very relevant acronym, FLNG stands for Floating Liquid Natural Gas. It is the one of the new ways that energy companies can exploit gas and petrochemical deposits with less risk and cost than traditional fixed platforms and rigs. The concept of a floating platform is new and currently, there are only 8 FLNG platforms in the whole world though more are due to come online in due course as the rush to capitalise on the new idea takes hold.
Natural gas has been used for decades as a means to heat and power homes. Now, the high demand for low-carbon resources to heat and power to homes is encouraging the uptake of natural gas. This in turn requires more gas and as a result, the production of gas has to increase. Traditionally, natural gas is reinjected into oil wells to increase the pressure and extend the life of the oil field. Alternatively, the gas is flared, simply burned through a boom hanging off the side of the facility. Now, the need for gas means that this 'waste-gas' needs to be harnessed for consumer use.
This is where FLNG comes in: the traditional rig is replaced with a giant tanker-style vessel with the topside incorporating a rig system with processing and refining facilities and the hold containting massive gas storage tanks. This allows the gas reserves to be safely tapped and processed at sea. The sheer size of the vessel means that they are less susceptible to storm damage and their inherent mobility means that they can be moved in the event of an impending natural disaster. Traditional gas tankers are moored next to the FLNG facility and filled with LNG. This can be shipped to buyers from the facility.
The main attractive point about FLNG is that the there is no need for fixed onshore facilities to process the gas and the LNG is obtained on the site of the gas field.
There is the expectation for many more of these floating behemoths cruising the seas in the next 5 - 10 years as more oil and gas companies weigh off the benefits against costs of FLNG and the rising need for clean energy. There is already heavy investment from Royal Dutch Shell in the technology as they have placed orders at Samsung Heavy Industries for 10 vessels of varying types to expand into the FLNG arena. The order included a few of the giant FLNGs and various support vessels and LNG transport vessels. From an environmental point of view, the FLNG represents a large step in the direction of clean energy provision and from a supply point of view, it's exactly the kind of technological development needed to ensure that the lights stay on in a world of ever increasing energy consumption.
