Baker Hughes said on Tuesday it secured a “major” order to supply multiple main refrigerant compressors for Qatar Petroleum’s LNG expansion project.
The award is part of the North Field East project that will add four “mega trains” with a capacity of 33 mtpa in the Ras Laffan complex.
Furthermore, this phase of the expansion project will increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 77 to 110 mtpa.
This will allow the Gulf nation to take back its position as the world’s number one LNG producer.
QP’s unit Qatargas already operates six LNG “mega trains” at Ras Laffan driven by Baker Hughes’ Frame 9E gas compressors .
One of the largest LNG deals in years
Baker Hughes said this order is among the firm’s largest LNG deals in the past five years. The company did not reveal the value of the deal.
Each main refrigerant compressor train will consist of three Frame 9E DLN gas turbines and six centrifugal compressors.
These will be placed across the four LNG trains for a total supply scope of 12 gas turbines to drive 24 compressors.
Furthermore, packaging, manufacturing and testing of the gas trains will take place at Baker Hughes’ facilities in Florence and Massa, Italy.
According to Baker Hughes, the project will feature the latest compression technology to reduce 60,000 tons of CO2 per train each year.
This will allow for a 5 percent decrease in emissions versus previous technologies, the firm claims.
Second phase on the table as well
Qatar Petroleum’s NFE project, operated by Qatargas, is the first phase of the expansion but the Gulf nation is planning the second as well.
This phase will boost Qatari LNG capacity by about 43 percent with first gas expected by the end of 2025.
Besides Baker Hughes, US-based Air Products also won a contract from Qatargas. The US firm will provide its liquefaction tech and equipment for the nation’s LNG expansion project.
Additionally, Qatar Petroleum is planning the second phase called the North Field South project to even further boost capacity.
This phase would add 16 mtpa of LNG capacity for a total of 126 mtpa.