The scope of work that LR is undertaking covers design, procurement, certification, construction, integration and commissioning, as well as providing classification services under a risk based inspection regime when the FLNG enters service in 2022.
The Coral South field is being developed by Eni in Area Four of the Rovuma Basin, off the coast of Mozambique, the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit will be Africa’s first floating gas facility. The size, quality and position of the field’s resources are set to transform Mozambique’s economy; the Coral South field contains approximately 450 billion cubic metres (16 TCF) of gas.
The Coral South FLNG unit will be the world’s first ultra-deepwater FLNG, operating at a depth of 2,000m. It is expected to produce around 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. The FLNG will be about 430m long, 66m wide, and will weigh about 210,000 tons. It has a design life of 25 years.
Leveraging its global reach and LNG expertise LR is providing flexible, bespoke support to the project through a range of services. LR has been the leading technical service provider to the gas supply chain for over 50 years and has a wealth of experience in large and complex FLNG projects.
LR has been involved in the project since 2014, and in 2015 awarded a first Approval in Principle for the design. LR’s primary role in the project is to ensure that the FLNG operates safely, is not going to impact the environment, that people working onboard the unit are safe and that it is designed, procured and fabricated in accordance with the most recognised industry standards.
Leveraging its capability in managing complex projects with its proven ability to put together teams with exactly the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience to get the job done, LR has a global team dedicated to the project. This will help ensure a common approach to the project is delivered globally for the design, engineering, operational and business development support required by Eni and its project partners.
LR will be heavily involved throughout the entire supply chain. The project is currently in a detailed engineering design phase, with the bulk of design work happening in Korea, France and Japan. LR is required to deliver a number of design appraisal documents as part of this phase.
All the equipment, systems and machinery that make up the topside plant on the FLNG will be certified by LR. To do this LR will be holding more than 500 contracts with equipment vendors directly and will be delivering services in all vendor locations. This will result in all the equipment arriving in Korea certified by LR to agreed codes and standards.
Upon completion of construction, the FLNG will be towed from Korea to Mozambique and LR will be in attendance to witness the hook up of the mooring system and to survey the commissioning of the topside plant on station. LR site surveyors will confirm that the unit is installed and commissioned in accordance with its rules and the industry codes and standards that it is designed to.
Simon Turpin, LR’s Overarching Project Manager on Coral South, said: “The fact that LR was chosen for this very large and complicated project underlines our expertise in FLNG and shows that we are prepared and able to work in new and developing areas, where our clients want us to be. This is the first step into Mozambique for a major class society and an investment in the future of the country. Everyone in LR working on Coral South is aligned to what we are trying to achieve and the level of quality that we want to provide to the client, ensuring global consistency in the way we provide services.”
Richard Nott, Head of Offshore & Global Projects at LR, commented: “Lloyd’s Register are firmly committed to the provision of value-adding compliance and technical assurance services to our clients as they seek to move their complex projects into less familiar operating areas and those which may not have a firmly established oil and gas industry and infrastructure. Our ability to provide coordinated and consistent assurance across the breadth and depth of a global supply chain will also be key to a successful outcome for Coral South. We are very pleased to be able to bring our expertise and pragmatic approach to the support of Eni and their project stakeholders.”