Germany’s MAN Energy Solutions and Australia’s Woodside have joined forces to commercialize a new solution for small to mid-scale LNG production.
Known as Factory LNG, the technology combines Woodside’s intellectual property and experience as Australia’s largest LNG firm with MAN’s portfolio of turbomachinery and solutions, global footprint in sales, project management and after-sales capabilities, according to a joint statement.
Moreover, it incorporates MAN’s low maintenance high-speed, oil-free, integrated motor-compressor (HOFIM) technology as used, for example, in subsea gas compression facilities, the statement said.
The design concept involves a nominal 50,000 tpa liquefaction unit, in the size of a 40-foot ISO shipping container.
In addition, the partners will manufacture the units as a complete product line, enabling customers to build-out LNG production at pace with demand, the statement said.
Reducing costs
Due to its compact and factory-built design, Factory LNG “reduces manufacturing costs and enables shorter execution timeframes than traditional stick-built or integrated modular LNG trains.”
It can also unlock liquefaction capabilities to more locations across the globe. Further potential exists for green fuel production by coupling the Factory LNG unit with synthetic methane units or bio-gas production, the statement said.
“Factory LNG can be broadly applied, opening up significant potential for customers worldwide,” Wayne Jones OBE, chief sales officer and member of the executive board of MAN, said.
Potential customers could use the technology to add capacity to existing LNG production, or to create an LNG hub for marine, land transport or other industry needs, unhindered by traditional location constraints, he said.
MAN and Woodside plan first commercial deployment for the new technology in 2022.
