Modular LNG Plant Transfer Without Lifting From Heavy Lift Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LNG production plants face high construction and maintenance costs, environmental impact concerns, and operational challenges due to coastal modifications and sensitivity to sea conditions, particularly in traditional onshore and floating LNG vessel setups.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for constructing an LNG production plant by dry transporting plant modules on a heavy lift vessel and transferring them onto a support structure without lifting, using techniques like floating over, skidding, or driving the modules onto a fixed-altitude support structure, which can be located onshore or offshore, allowing for flexible layout and reduced environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional stick-built onshore LNG plants are constructed, then production capacity is achieved, but construction and maintenance costs become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The LNG production plant is divided into multiple modular units (modules) that can be independently constructed, transported, and assembled. Each module contains specific equipment and functionality, allowing for standardized manufacturing at lower costs while maintaining overall production capacity through modular assembly.
2Productivity
If traditional onshore LNG plants are built with coastal modifications, then production capability is established, but environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The LNG production modules are extracted from traditional onshore coastal locations and relocated to floating platforms. This removes the need for coastal modifications such as dredging and jetty construction, thereby eliminating the associated environmental harm while preserving production capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complete LNG liquefaction plant is installed on FLNG vessel, then offshore production is achieved, but costs become extremely high and space is severely restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing a complete liquefaction plant on a floating vessel, the system segments the LNG production process into modular units that can be selectively deployed. This allows offshore production capability while reducing implementation costs by avoiding the need for full-scale floating liquefaction infrastructure.
4Area of stationary object
If FLNG vessel deck space is fully utilized to minimize size, then footprint is reduced, but production flexibility and maintenance access are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed, space-constrained floating vessel to a dynamic modular configuration where modules can be assembled and reconfigured on floating platforms. This provides production flexibility and maintenance access while maintaining a compact offshore footprint.
5Adaptability or versatility
If plant equipment is located on floating structures, then offshore production is enabled, but reliability decreases due to sensitivity to wave motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments heavy liquefaction equipment from the floating platform, placing modular units on the floating structure while allowing for better stability configurations. This enables offshore production while improving operational reliability by reducing the impact of wave motion on critical equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces construction costs, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances operational reliability by stabilizing plant equipment, reducing the risk of shutdowns due to weather conditions, and enabling flexible expansion and maintenance of LNG production facilities.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting buoyance of the vessel so that each of one or more contact surfaces of the plant module lie at an altitude substantially flush with an altitude of a support surface of the structure
Data Source
AI summary
An LNG production plant and a method of constructing the LNG production plant is disclosed. The LNG production plant includes at least one plant module and a support structure to support the plant module. Each plant module is dry transported by a heavy lift vessel and subsequently transferred to the support structure without lifting the plant module from a deck of the vessel. The support structure includes a landing substructure onto which the plant module is transferred from the vessel. Landing substructure may be onshore or offshore. The support structure may also include one or more onshore support substructures and a transfer path enabling a plant module to be moved from the landing substructure to a corresponding onshore support substructure.