Mahmood Mumtaz, Manager, Technology & Business Development, ABS Europe

BS Manager of Technology & Business Development for ABS Europe, Mahmood Mumtaz, told participants the LNG trade has grown at a staggering rate over the past few years. There is an unprecedented demand for LNG. More upstream plants and regasification terminals are being built with the demand for LNG carriers growing. In the workshop he explored the topics of: abundant supply sources, new and expanding market opportunities, globalization, liberalization of the LNG market, comparative cost between laying miles of pipeline vs. transportation of LNG by ships and, finally, the new technologies driving down LNG project prices. ABS is in a unique position to assist industry having the world’s leading marketshare in offshore classification as well as years of experience in the classification of LNG ships, having classed vessels with all the different types of containment system technologies.

An influx of contracts for new LNG carriers at yards in Korea and China and “approval in principal" of such novel design concepts as the SANHA LPG FPSO currently under construction in Japan has put ABS at the forefront of setting standards for offshore LNG as well as ship design for LNG.

According to Mumtaz, the future for LNG carriers is increase in size. From 138,000 cubic meter capacity to designs currently under evaluation pushing the 220,000 cubic meter capacity, he says the key issues will be evaluating the dynamic and static loads, fatigue life of the entire vessel structure to a minimum of 40 years and proper evaluation of the containment system.

How does this impact offshore operators? The handling of LNG at the loading and unloading stages poses an entire set of technical challenges. And as the size of the LNG carriers of the future become larger, the issue of terminal compatibility should be considered. No doubt the LNG trading pattern will be affected by this practical limitation---not all terminals can receive a vessel of this cubic meter capacity.

For more information regarding ABS’ services in LNG, contact ABS Vice President of Offshore & Energy, William J. Sember, at bsember@eagle.org.

The Sanha LPG FPSO successfully launched the end of November after installation of the turret. Remaining sections such as accommodations and depropanizer column will be installed in December. ABS was selected the classification society for this first newbuild liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) FPSO, slated for operation offshore Angola.