PETRONAS Names Its First Floating LNG Facility

PETRONAS’ first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG)​ facility officially received its name, marking another milestone for Malaysia’s national oil and gas corporation in the global LNG business arena on 4 March 2016.

The PFLNG SATU was named at a ceremony held by PETRONAS, together with its strategic partners Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd (DSME) and Technip, at the DSME shipyard here in Okpo, South Korea.

PETRONAS’ President and Group CEO, Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said that the floating LNG facility signified a breakthrough achievement not only for the company but also for Malaysia.

“The PFLNG SATU is a testament to the engineering capabilities of PETRONAS and its partners. Today, we have pushed the boundaries and turned our technological aspirations of having an LNG plant on a floating vessel into reality,” added Datuk Wan Zulkiflee.

The floating LNG facility is a significant achievement and a game changer in the global LNG business as it paves the way for opportunities to monetise gas resources from remote, marginal and stranded fields, which would otherwise be uneconomical to develop via conventional means.

The PFLNG SATU will be moored at Malaysia’s Kanowit gas field, 180 kilometres offshore Sarawak and has the capacity to produce 1.2 million tonnes of LNG per year. It will play a significant role in PETRONAS’ efforts to unlock the gas reserves in Malaysia's remote and stranded fields.

The momentous occasion in Okpo was also attended by President and Chief Executive Officer of DSME, Mr. Sung Leep Jung and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Technip, Mr. Thierry Pilenko.

Mr. Jung in his speech said, “This project has been a remarkable experience for PETRONAS and the DSME/Technip consortium and today marks the successful completion of construction for PFLNG SATU. This achievement, coupled with HSE record of 17 million hours of No Lost Time Injuries is indeed a significant feat for the partnership.

“We have built a trustful and long term-relationship with PETRONAS over the years and are very proud today, with our partner DSME, to have met the challenges of this game-changing project,” Mr Pilenko added in his speech.

The ceremony proceeded with a rope cutting formality by the PFLNG SATU Lady Sponsor, Datin Dr. Azura Ahmad Tajuddin.

Guests were then given a guided tour of the PFLNG SATU which included the vessel’s modules and topside equipment namely the Liquefaction System, Cargo Containment System and Pre-treatment Process.

The floating LNG facility will support PETRONAS’ global LNG portfolio and enhance its reputation as a preferred and reliable LNG supplier.

The PFLNG SATU is expected to be Ready for Sail Away in the second quarter of 2016.