US energy services firm Baker Hughes has won a new contract from QatarEnergy to supply two main refrigerant compressors for the North Field South (NFS) LNG project.
Baker Hughes said in a statement that the MRCs are part of two LNG “mega trains” representing 16 million tons per annum of additional capacity that is estimated to further boost Qatar’s LNG production capacity to 126 mtpa, helping to propel Qatar as a leader in global LNG production by 2027.
This most recent contract builds upon a previously announced award for North Field East (NFE) expansion in 2020, and will bring the overall number of LNG “mega trains” driven by Baker Hughes’ solutions to 12, it said.
Like the trains supplied for the NFE project, Baker Hughes’ LNG technology will contribute to improving the energy efficiency of the project through enhanced machine performance, the firm claims.
Each MRC train will consist of three Frame 9E DLN gas turbines and six centrifugal compressors across two LNG “mega trains” for a total scope of supply of six gas turbines to drive 12 centrifugal compressors.
Packaging, manufacturing and testing of the gas turbine/compressor trains will take place at Baker Hughes’ gas technology facilities in Italy and leverage its service site in Ras Laffan, Qatar, for maintenance and technical assistance services.
Baker Hughes did not provide the price tag of the deal.
QatarEnergy’s unit Qatargas currently has an LNG production capacity of 77 mtpa in the giant Ras Laffan complex.
Together, NFE and NFS form the wider North Field Expansion project to increase LNG production from the North Field, adding about 48 mtpa to Qatar’s export capacity and bringing it to 126 mtpa.
Previously, Shell, TotalEnergies, Eni, and US firms ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil took stakes in the $28.75 billion NFE project which will boost Qatar’s LNG export capacity by 32 mtpa.
ConocoPhilips, Shell, as well as TotalEnergies took stakes in the smaller NFS project with a capacity of 16 mtpa.