US-based GE Energy has been awarded a contract of approximately $200 million by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil to supply three turbo compressor strings for main refrigerant duty in the Qatargas II liquefied natural gas (LNG) Expansion Project.
The project, which also includes an offshore development, large capacity ships and a re-gasification terminal, will supply the United Kingdom market with LNG.
Qatargas II, the world's largest LNG project, will also
feature the world's largest trains for LNG production. Qatar Petroleum (QP) owns 70 percent of the project and ExxonMobil 30 percent. Located in Qatar, Ras Laffan Industrial City, each Qatargas II liquefaction train will be rated for an annual capacity of approximately 7.8 million tons.
The project will utilize the new AP-XO liquefaction process from Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. Startup of the first train is planned for the winter of 2007GE Energy is supplying three MS9001E gas turbine-driven compression strings with low emissions capability, states a press release. It will be the first application of these units in LNG refrigeration service. Each string also will feature large electric motor/generators with variable frequency drives, supplied by ASIRobicon, for start up/helper and power generation purposes.
The scope of the GE contract also includes full-load string testing and spare parts. The gas turbines will be manufactured at GE facilities in Belfort, France and tested and packaged at GE's Massa, Italy plant for shipment to the Ras Laffan site. The centrifugal compressors will be manufactured and assembled at GE's Florence and Massa workshops. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
