Shell Ships First Condensate from Prelude FLNG

Shell shipped the first condensate cargo from its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project off Broome in Western Australia on Saturday.

The 116,000dwt tanker Advantage Atom arrived at Prelude from Singapore on Wednesday, according to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic.

Production commenced in late December. 

Prelude has a nameplate capacity of 3.6 million tons per annum (mtpa). It is located 155 nautical miles offshore and weather vanes 360 degrees around a turret, moored in 248 meters (813 feet) of water. Three stern thrusters enable Prelude to maintain an optimum heading for offtake operations. It is fitted with the necessary equipment for exporting LNG/LPG via side by side mooring and loading arms and condensate via a tandem mooring and floating hose system. 

Prelude is moored to the sea bed via 16 anchor piles and chains whilst being directly connected to wells that access the gas reservoir via flexible risers routed through the turret. All reservoir, subsea control, processing, storage and loading is operated and controlled from Prelude.

Shell has chosen not to exercise its options for more FLNGs like Prelude.

In November, Australia overtook Qatar to become the world's biggest exporter of LNG. The nation exceeded Qatar's monthly production by shipping 6.8 million tons during the month (versus Qatar's 6.2 million tons).

According to the International Energy Agency, Australia is likely to slip to third place over the course of the next five years as the U.S. brings more production volume online. IEA forecasts that Qatar, the U.S. and Australia will supply nearly two thirds of the global LNG market by 2023, and American suppliers are expected to capture the largest part of the market's growth, adding some 80 mtpa over the course of five years.