Samsung Heavy Industries Develops Next-Generation FLNG... Solidifying 'No.1 Market Share'

DNV Class Certification at the US 'OTC 2023'

Samsung Heavy Industries has developed a next-generation Floating Liquefied Natural Gas production facility (FLNG) model and is targeting clients who want shorter delivery times.

On the 1st (local time), Samsung Heavy Industries announced at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2023) in Houston, USA, that it had obtained basic certification from Norwegian classification society DNV for its independently developed FLNG floating body model (hereinafter 'MLF-N'·Multi-purpose LNG Floater-Nearshore).

MLF-N is Samsung Heavy Industries' strategic product developed to meet market demands for FLNG models that offer faster delivery and cost-effectiveness compared to onshore plants, driven by the recent increase in LNG exports from major liquefied natural gas (LNG) producing countries.

It features standardization of hull form and specifications, condensing Samsung Heavy Industries' extensive FLNG EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) experience and technological capabilities to date. By standardizing the LNG cargo tank shape and the surrounding hull, MLF-N allows clients to easily increase cargo tank capacity from a basic 180,000 m³ up to a maximum of 245,000 m³ as needed.

The next-generation FLNG independent model MLF-N of Samsung Heavy Industries [Photo by Samsung Heavy Industries]

At the same time, it is designed with a stable structure capable of supporting approximately 50,000 tons of upper plant facilities, including natural gas liquefaction modules, from below. The optimal specifications of major equipment installed on the hull have been determined and standardized, drastically shortening the engineering period.

In fact, Samsung Heavy Industries has applied parts of the MLF-N design to recently secured FLNG projects and is actively conducting MLF-N sales activities by participating in multiple ongoing overseas gas field development project bids.

Jang Hae-gi, Vice President and Head of Technology Development at Samsung Heavy Industries, said, "MLF-N is the optimal solution that meets all the needs of clients who want LNG development to be Easy, Simple, and Fast." He added, "We will continue to lead FLNG technological leadership through customer-oriented technological innovation." Vidal Doronen, DNV Korea and Japan representative, said, "Samsung Heavy Industries' next-generation FLNG model (MLF-N) is expected to be an innovative product that meets the increasing global LNG demand."

(From left) Lee Won-ho, DNV Customer Sales Leader; Antony Doja, DNV North America Representative; Jang Hae-gi, Head of Technology Development Division at Samsung Heavy Industries; Kwon Do-hoon, Head of Offshore Design Team 2 at Samsung Heavy Industries
[Photo by Samsung Heavy Industries]

FLNG is a complex offshore plant that extracts natural gas at sea, refines it, liquefies it into LNG, and stores and offloads it, often called the 'LNG factory on the sea.' Samsung Heavy Industries has secured orders for 4 out of 5 newly built FLNG vessels worldwide and is increasing the possibility of additional orders by participating in the front-end engineering design (FEED) of multiple FLNG projects currently under development review.

Samsung Heavy Industries' 'Shell Prelude,' built in 2017, is the world's largest existing FLNG with a self-weight of 260,000 tons and a length of 488 meters, which, if stood upright, would approach the height of Seoul's Jamsil Lotte World Tower (555 meters).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.