NYSE-listed Baker Hughes has secured one of its largest LNG deals in five years, signing a contract with Qatar Petroleum (QP) to supply multiple main refrigerant compressors for the North Field East (NFE) project
Being undertaken by Qatargas, the NFE project will see the addition of four LNG ‘mega trains,’ representing 33 mta of additional capacity, increasing Qatar’s total LNG production capacity by 43%, from 77 mta to 110 mta by 2025.
“This milestone deal illustrates the continued strength of Baker Hughes’ partnership with Qatar Petroleum, which began 25 years ago upon our delivery of the first LNG train in Qatar,” said Baker Hughes chairman and chief executive Lorenzo Simonelli.
Mr Simonelli said the order builds upon more than two decades of turbomachinery collaboration between Baker Hughes, QP and Qatargas. "With Qatargas already operating six existing LNG ’mega trains’ driven by Frame 9E gas turbine refrigerant compressors provided by Baker Hughes, the NFE project underscores the leadership of Baker Hughes LNG technology in the Gulf region and for the world’s most complex LNG projects.”
Each of the main refrigerant compressor (MRC) trains will consist of three Frame 9E DLN Ultra Low NOx gas turbines and six centrigual compressors across four LNG mega-trains, for a total scope of supply of 12 gas turbines to drive 24 centrifugal compressors. Packaging, manufacturing and testing of the gas turbine/compressor trains will take place at Baker Hughes’ facilities in Florence and Massa, Italy.
“As we look ahead to the next two decades, in almost any scenario natural gas will be a key transition fuel, and likely a destination fuel for a lower carbon future,” added Mr Simonelli.
To support decarbonising the NFE operation, the latest Baker Hughes compression technology will help reduce 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per train each year without any reduction in LNG production, representing about a 5% decrease versus previous technologies, according to Baker Hughes.
Decarbonising the manufacturing process is also a primary concern. Baker Hughes says it will minimise raw material usage and emission-intensive processes to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10%.
First gas from the NFE Expansion Project is expected to be produced by the end of 2025. The second phase of the NFE LNG Expansion Project, called the North Field South project (NFS), will further increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity, from 110 MTPA to 126 mta.
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