Shell says Prelude FLNG still offline after fire

Shell is still working to restart production at its giant Prelude FLNG located offshore Australia following an incident last week.

“On 2 December 2021 at approximately 11.00PM AWST, smoke detected in an electrical utility area triggered the automatic fire detection and management systems on board the Prelude FLNG facility,” a Shell spokesperson told LNG Prime in an emailed statement.

The spokesperson said the area was made safe by the systems in place and it did not spread further.

“All workers on the facility are safe and accounted for. While work is underway to restore main power, production on Prelude has been suspended temporarily,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson did not provide any additional information.

LNG Prime understands that Shell has decided to reduce the number of staff on board the FLNG as the unit requires only a skeleton crew during a production shutdown.

Local media reports also suggested that the firm has evacuated about 150 crew members from the giant unit.

It remains unclear when Shell would restore the main power and restart the production.

Production problems continue

Shell’s chief executive Ben van Beurden said earlier this year that the firm was working to bring Prelude to full production following a long shutdown due to an electrical trip in February last year.

To remind, the giant floating LNG producer shipped the first cargo in almost a year in early January followed by the second shipment later the same month.

Prelude delivered 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.

Shell operates the floating facility 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, and Taiwan’s CPC holds 5 percent.

Most Popular

Delfin inks new deals for US FLNG project, eyes FID later this year

Delfin Midstream, the US developer of a floating LNG export project offshore Louisiana, is moving forward with the project by signing new deals with Siemens Energy, Samsung Heavy, and Black & Veatch.

Deutsche ReGas: Mukran LNG terminal hits record in Q2

German LNG terminal operator Deutsche ReGas claims that its FSRU-based LNG import facility in Mukran was the highest-performing LNG terminal in Germany in the second quarter of this year.

Ukraine’s Naftogaz to get another US LNG cargo from Orlen

Poland's Orlen will supply another US LNG cargo to Ukraine's Naftogaz, the fourth shipment as part of a deal signed earlier this year.

More News Like This

Shell ships first LNG Canada cargo

LNG giant Shell and its partners have shipped the first cargo produced at the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, on the west coast of Canada.

Peru LNG shipped five cargoes in June

Peru LNG’s liquefaction plant at Pampa Melchorita has shipped five liquefied natural gas cargoes in June, the same as in the previous month.

Knutsen, Shell name ninth LNG newbuild

Norwegian shipowner Knutsen and UK-based energy giant Shell have named the ninth and final LNG carrier in a series of 174,000-cbm vessels.

LNG carrier arrives to load first LNG Canada cargo

The 174,000-cbm GasLog Glasgow has arrived at the LNG Canada jetty in Kitimat to load the first LNG cargo produced at the Shell-led terminal, an LNG Canada spokesperson told LNG Prime on Saturday.