Honeywell’s ICSS to Control First Floating LNG Unit

When Exmar announced the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction, regasification and storage unit (FLRSU) about a year ago, it was keen to show the world its innovative capabilities in the LNG market. Now the Exmar-Pacific Rubialis Energy project, set to begin operating offshore Colombia late next year, will be controlled by an integrated control and safety system (ICSS) from Honeywell, unifying process control and safety systems and automation software under one architecture.

“We are working with Black & Veatch on topside pre-treatment and liquefaction processes and with Wison for the barge, cargo tanks and utilities,” said David Higgins, director marine, Honeywell Process Solutions. “Thus, we are bringing our process controls and marine experience together in this groundbreaking project, which will be the first to produce LNG in the offshore environment.”

Natural gas is the world’s fastest growing energy source, with demand expected to increase by nearly 2 percent a year through 2035, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accounting for about a third of that increase will be unconventional gas, which includes natural gas in remote locations, such as offshore. Today’s floating facilities allow companies to unlock these difficult-to-reach gas reserves.

This vessel is a non-propelled barge equipped to convert natural gas into LNG. It is also able to store the LNG for offloading to shuttle tankers or LNG carriers. Liquefied natural gas takes up about 1/600th the volume of natural gas in a gaseous state and allows companies like Exmar to more efficiently transport the product to its end customers.

“While the industry continues to discuss the potential of floating LNG facilities in bringing new sources of clean energy to market, this partnership enables us to bring the right technology and approach to make production of LNG at sea a commercial reality,” said Greg Wayne, project manager, Black & Veatch. “We chose Honeywell because of its strong presence in LNG marine applications.”

The FLRSU will be constructed at Wison Offshore & Marine’s fabrication yard in Nantong, China, with Black & Veatch providing the topside LNG plant design, plus LNG equipment and components. International ship management group Exmar will own and operate the FLRSU in the Caribbean Sea starting in the first quarter of 2015.

“We are extremely pleased to introduce this innovation into the LNG industry,” said Exmar CEO Nicolas Saverys. “Exmar is the first operator to do re-gasification onboard a ship, and we are the first one doing ship-to-ship liquid transfer. Now, with the FLRSU, we will be the first one to do floating LNG liquefaction, enabling us to bring previously untapped gas to consumers at a time when the world wants cleaner fuels.”

Honeywell’s ICSS is based on the company’s Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS). It will manage control and safety operations of the topside and hull, and also monitor operational safety during cargo handling. Additionally, closed-circuit television, and fire and gas detectors will be integrated with the system.