Royal Dutch Shell plc’s Prelude floating LNG (FLNG) vessel offshore Western Australia stays offline greater than three weeks after one other fireplace broke out on board. 

Shell stated a small fireplace was detected on Dec. 21 in a turbine enclosure and shortly extinguished. Nevertheless, liquefied pure gasoline manufacturing was suspended pending an investigation, the corporate stated. 

“We’re working methodically by the levels within the course of to recommence manufacturing with security and stability foremost in thoughts,” a Shell spokesperson advised NGI. 

The corporate is also working with regulators to restart operations, however there is no such thing as a timeline. 

Prelude has the capability to provide 3.6 million metric tons/yr (mmty) of LNG. It largely provides cargoes to Asia, together with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The most recent outage comes amid delicate winter climate and subdued shopping for within the area due to decrease demand and wholesome inventories.

Since ramping up in June 2019, the Prelude vessel has been plagued with operational points. The vessel reentered service final April after it was compelled to close down following a hearth in December 2021. It additionally canceled cargoes final summer time amid a union strike that lasted for practically three months. Final month’s fireplace additionally got here after a prolonged stretch of upkeep that began shortly after the strike.

Shell can be experiencing an prolonged discount in volumes exported from jap Australia because it offers with upkeep points on the Queensland Curtis LNG (GCLNG) facility. 

One manufacturing unit on the 8.5 mmty facility on Curtis Island was shut down early final month after a minor situation with a pipe was detected throughout an inspection, a Shell spokesperson advised NGI.

Upkeep to deal with the problem has been ongoing since early December and will lengthen into the second half of January, in accordance with media studies. The spokesperson stated the corporate couldn’t touch upon the timeline for a restart.

GCLNG is majority owned by Shell, which controls 4.5 mmty of capability, in accordance with knowledge from Kpler Inc. Companions embrace China Nationwide Offshore Oil Corp. (3.6 mmty) and Jera Co. Inc. (0.4 mmty). The ability largely delivers spot market cargoes to prospects in Asia.