ABB has secured a five-year contract to provide equipment and services for the construction of the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas facility, Prelude FLNG in Australia.
Under the contract, ABB will supply motors, generators, variable speed drives and low-voltage switchgear.
ABB will also offer lifecycle management of the electrical equipment and service and support for motors from third-party vendors.
ABB Discrete Automation and Motion division president said: "A reliable service network is crucial for the facility’s productivity.
"Prelude will be equipped with ABB’s integrated marine solutions for optimal reliability, flexibility and energy efficiency to assure higher profitability.
"In line with our Next Level strategy of business-led collaboration various ABB businesses will work together to mobilize the strength and experience of our entire global service organization."
ABB will set up a spare parts inventory and offer round the clock technical support for the project both over the phone and on-site.
The company’s electrical system will supply power for 14 gas plant modules, enabling the facility to produce 5.3 million tons per annum of liquids.
The facility, which will come up in Australia will be 488m long and 74m wide, weighing more than 600,000 tonnes fully ballasted – roughly six times as much as the largest aircraft carrier.
Prelude is operated by Shell in partnership with Inpex (17.5%), Kogas (10%) and OPIC (5%). It is expected to produce 3.6 mtpa of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate and 0.4 mtpa of LPG for export.
The facility is scheduled to remain there for up to 25 years without uncoupling for overhaul, or to take shelter from cyclones.
Image: Shell’s Prelude FLNG project. Photo: © Royal Dutch Shell