Qatargas and RasGas complete first coloading of LNG

Qatari gas producers Qatargas and RasGas have coloaded their first LNG cargo for delivery to more than one port, having previously each loaded single cargoes for delivery to one location.

The move comes as Qatar prepares to merge the two LNG-producing firms. Qatargas and RasGas loaded the cargo at Ras Laffan onto the Q-flex LNG carrier Al Khuwair.

Nakilat’s 2008-built, 213,536 mᶟ Al Khuwair is fixed until 2033 to deliver cargoes from train six at RasGas III. It delivered the coloaded cargo to Zeebrugge LNG terminal in Belgium and then to South Hook LNG terminal in the UK, see below.

“This innovative method of multi-port delivery of a single LNG cargo from two separate suppliers represents a new level of operational flexibility and supply-chain efficiency in the LNG industry,” Qatargas said.

“Prior to this world-class development, the established practice was to load a single cargo, for delivery to a single location, supplied by a single seller.”

Qatar Petroleum president and chief executive and Qatargas chairman Saad Sherida al-Kaabi described the operation as a “key industry milestone”.

Qatar is the world’s leading LNG producer. Last year it delivered 77.2 million tonnes (mt) to market. The emirate plans to ramp up its production, ending its moratorium on expanding the North Field to increase its LNG output by nearly a third, to 100 million tonnes a year (mta) by 2024.

In separate news, Shell has completed the first phase of the handover to Qatari shipowner Nakilat, which is taking management of its LNG carrier fleet in-house. Nakilat describes the process as “the world’s largest management transition of LNG carriers”. It has just taken over management of the 2009-built, 266,370 mᶟ LNG carrier Al Mafyar. The Q-max is the 10th LNG carrier to transfer from Shell to Nakilat’s own management.

Nakilat commands a fleet of 63 wholly or part-owned LNG carriers and four LPG carriers. It now manages 18 vessels inhouse; 14 LNG carriers and all four LPG carriers.

Shell continues to manage 15 Nakilat LNG carriers. It will continue to do so, “pending further transition phases”, Nakilat says.