World's first FLNG facility leaves dry dock

The non-propelled barge will be installed and operated off the Caribbean coast of Colombia by Exmar, on behalf of Pacific Rubiales Energy. The facility is capable of converting up to 72m standard cu ft per day of natural gas into LNG (around 500,000 tons annually), with topside equipment engineered by Black & Veatch.

“This event is another major milestone on the Caribbean FLNG project that brings not only this project, but the entire industry one step closer to making floating LNG a reality,” said Wison Offshore & Marine president L Dwayne Breaux. “By being an integral part of this premier project for Exmar  and  their client Pacific Rubiales Energy, Wison is proving that by working  with our  key  partner Black &  Veatch  that we can establish a cost-effective  EPCIC solution to the market that can be repeated for other LNG developments.”

“This is a major milestone in the development of our Colombian project,” said Nicolas Saverys, ceo of Exmar. “The cooperation with both partners is excellent and we are very excited to bring a world’s first to the market when the first commercial LNG cargo from our FLNG project will be produced during second half 2015.”

The area of drydock will previously dedicated to Caribbean FLNG will now be used for fabrication of a second LNG facility, a barge-based floating regasification  unit  for a 50/50 jv between Exmar and Pacific Rubiales Energy affiliate.