Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2022 - GP-29

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
LNG today: Meeting changing
infrastructure requirements
Trelleborg Marine and Infrastructure, Trelleborg, Sweden
The growing global climate crisis is necessitating
the search and need for cleaner
energy choices. Changing market dynamics
are driving evolution and growth within
several sub segments such as LNG.
The need to meet sustainability goals
in more mature global markets is accelerating
infrastructure changes. As LNG
applications evolve, facilities must adapt
innovative infrastructure and vessels to
ensure they continue to operate in a safe,
efficient, cost-effective and timely manner.
As the transition toward a net-zero
economy gains momentum and LNG
becomes increasingly cost competitive,
the demand for LNG and its related infrastructure
will only increase.
The evolution of LNG applications.
Operators are improving infrastructure
by upgrading jetties to support larger vessel
types, using floating units as semi-permanent
storage structures, with onboard
liquid-to-gas conversion (e.g., FSRU) or
using ship-to-ship transfers more regularly
to meet demand. However, if paired
with existing infrastructure that is no longer
fit for purpose, all these potential solutions
will impact efficiency and-more
importantly-safety.
One-way foresighted ports and terminals
are reducing disruption is by adding
or modifying their facilities to offer LNG
bunkering services gradually over time.
Many of these shore-based facilities are
in regions with tighter emissions control
regulations and close to LNG import terminals
for efficient distribution.
However, due to its low capital investment
and the limited infrastructure reterminals
and
ports today for LNG. This method
does have its drawbacks; among other
factors, it requires multiple vehicles, ultiFIG.
1. View of a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
Gas Processing & LNG | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 29
quired, truck-to-ship is one of the most
widely used configuration at
mately limiting bunkering operations to
smaller-sized LNG-fueled vessels.
Alternative options-such as shipto-ship
and terminal shore-to-ship transfers-support
larger storage capacity and
higher bunkering rates, but both methods
require significantly higher capital
investments for bunker vessels and fixed
infrastructure, such as storage tanks, specialized
loading arms and flexible hoses.
As LNG applications evolve, infrastructure
and operations must evolve to
be more flexible to avoid implications on
efficiency and safety. For example, LNG
bunker vessels must be able to both visit
large terminals and provide transfers to
LNG-fueled ships via ship-to-ship.
Infrastructure development and the
LNG supply chain. LNG fueling is becoming
an alternative for shipping lines
wishing to reduce their carbon footprint
with immediate impact. Using LNG
helps lessen carbon dioxide (CO2
tric oxide (NOx
) and sulfur oxide (SOx
), ni)
emissions
and has contributed to the
development of new markets within the
LNG industry, initiating unprecedented
levels of ship and bunker vessel building
and new gas train construction.
The new global limit of 0.5% of sulfur
content in marine fuels-enforced
by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) in January 2020-is poised
to incentivize the investment in LNG.
This stricter cap on marine bunker fuel
is spurring the installation of new machinery
(or conversion where possible)
designed to operate on LNG, as well as
the construction of related infrastructure
to accommodate the switch to LNGfueled
vessels. This standard is creating
a self-reinforcing feedback loop, where
the development of an efficient, secure,
and competitive LNG supply chain and
related bunkering infrastructure drives
further adoption of LNG-fueled vessels.
The LNG supply chain is a carbonintensive
process. Uptake in gas demand
will be met by LNG in many countries
without domestic
gas
production
or
pipeline gas from nearby countries. By its
very nature, the LNG supply chain spans
the globe and involves different industry
processes. However, the emissions from
LNG have been considered on a more
Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2022
