Shell’s giant Prelude FLNG offshore Western Australia could be preparing to export its first cargo since February last year when it stopped production due to an electrical trip.
The 147,600-cbm Symphonic Breeze was on Tuesday located close to the Prelude facility, its AIS data shows. The vessel appears to be empty.
LNG Prime contacted Shell for a comment. A spokesperson declined to comment whether the vessel is heading to pick up the first Prelude cargo in almost a year.
To remind, Prelude FLNG received the 145,127-cbm Methane Heather Sally in November last year but this vessel arrived loaded with a cargo.
This LNG was probably used for cool-down as the giant unit prepared to come back online again.
In its last official communication, Shell said the firm continued to work through the process for hydrocarbon restart and that it does not expect the FLNG unit to restart before the end of 2020.
Prelude shipped its first cargo in June 2019 after several start-up delays. The FLNG has the capacity to produce 3.6 mtpa of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate, and 0.4 mtpa of LPG.
Moreover, Shell operates the giant LNG producer located some 475 km from Broome in Western Australia, with a 67.5 percent stake.
Japan’s Inpex holds a 17.5 percent stake, Korea’s Kogas 10 percent, while Taiwan’s CPC holds 5 percent.