Expandable lng processing plant

Abstract

An LNG processing plant positioned at a processing location adjacent to a body of water is described. The LNG processing plant includes A) a first phase LNG processing plant for processing an initial plant capacity of LNG, the first phase LNG processing plant including a plurality of first phase facilities, each first phase facility provided with plant equipment related to a pre-determined function associated with the processing of LNG, wherein one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities is arranged on a deck of a structure wherein the deck is arranged above the level of the water at a selected offshore or near-shore location; and, B) one or more second phase facilities provided on the deck of the structure to provide a second phase LNG processing plant, said second phase LNG processing plant having a maximum plant capacity that is higher than the initial plant capacity.

1 . An LNG processing plant positioned at a processing location adjacent to a body of water, the LNG processing plant comprising:
 A) a first phase LNG processing plant for processing an initial plant capacity of LNG, the first phase LNG processing plant comprising a plurality of first phase facilities, each first phase facility provided with plant equipment related to a pre-determined function associated with the processing of LNG, wherein one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities is arranged on a deck of a structure wherein the deck is arranged above the level of the water at a selected offshore or near-shore location; and,   B) one or more second phase facilities provided on the deck of the structure to provide a second phase LNG processing plant, said second phase LNG processing plant having a maximum plant capacity that is higher than the initial plant capacity, wherein the one or more second phase facilities are provided to expand the plant capacity of the first phase LNG processing plant in one or more incremental stages, and, the deck of the structure is sized to provide a pre-allocated space for the installation of the one or more second phase facilities on the deck of the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities is arranged towards: (a) a first end of the deck with the pre-allocated space being arranged towards a second opposite end of the deck; or (b) a first side of the deck with the pre-allocated space being arranged towards a second opposite side of the deck. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the structure is a fixed structure or a floating structure or a gravity based structure having a base that rests on the seabed at the selected location. 
     
     
         5 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the structure includes a first cryogenic storage tank for receiving and storing LNG. 
     
     
         6 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 5  wherein the first cryogenic storage tank is either: (a) a prismatic storage tank; (b) a membrane storage tank; or (c) one of a plurality of first cryogenic storage tanks. 
     
     
         7 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the plant has one or both of (a) initial plant capacity of the first phase LNG processing plant is in the range of 0.5 to 7 million tons per annum of LNG; and (b) a maximum capacity after expansion to provide the second phase LNG processing plant in the range of 2 million to 50 million tons per annum of LNG. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities is sized for processing both the initial plant capacity and the maximum plant capacity. 
     
     
         15 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein one or more of second phase facilities is located on a fixed platform, a semi-submersible or a jacket structure. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 4  wherein the gravity structure includes one or both of a condensate storage tank and an LPG storage tank. 
     
     
         19 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the structure includes an LNG transfer facility for loading LNG between from the first cryogenic storage tank of the structure to a second cryogenic storage tank onboard an LNG Carrier, or for unloading of LNG from the second cryogenic storage tank of an LNG Carrier to the first cryogenic storage tank of the structure. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the structure is arranged to provide a breakwater for an LNG Carrier at the selected location. 
     
     
         22 . The LNG processing plant of any one of the preceding claims wherein the structure is transportable from a first processing location to a second processing location. 
     
     
         23 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the structure is a gravity based structure and the gravity based structure includes a at least one ballast storage compartment arranged around the periphery of the gravity based structure or arranged toward the base of the gravity based structure, for ballasting. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the LNG processing plant is an LNG production plant arranged to receive a feed stream of natural gas and liquefy the natural gas to produce a product stream of LNG. 
     
     
         26 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 25  wherein the first phase LNG processing plant includes a first phase gas receiving facility for receiving a hydrocarbon stream comprising hydrocarbon gas and liquids and separating the liquids, including one or both of condensate and free water, from the hydrocarbon stream to produce a hydrocarbon feed gas stream for a gas pre-treatment facility. 
     
     
         27 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 26  wherein the first phase gas receiving facility is arranged (a) on the deck of the structure; or (b) offshore; or (c) subsea; or (d) onshore. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 25  wherein the first phase LNG processing plant includes a first phase gas pre-treatment facility for receiving a hydrocarbon feed gas stream from a gas receiving facility and removing contaminants from the hydrocarbon feed gas stream to produce a stream of pre-treated gas. 
     
     
         31 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 30  wherein the first phase gas pre-treatment facility is arranged (a) on the deck of the structure; or (b) onshore; or (c) offshore. 
     
     
         32 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 25  wherein the first phase LNG processing plant includes a first phase LNG liquefaction facility for receiving the stream of pre-treated gas from a gas pre-treatment facility and liquefying the natural gas to produce a product stream of LNG. 
     
     
         35 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 34  wherein the first phase LNG liquefaction facility is arranged (a) on the deck of the structure; or (b) onshore; or (c) offshore. 
     
     
         36 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 25  wherein the structure includes a boil-off gas reliquefaction facility for liquefying at least a portion of the boil off gas that is generated in first cryogenic storage tank. 
     
     
         39 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the LNG processing plant is an LNG regasification plant arranged to receive a feed stream of LNG and vaporise the LNG to produce a product stream of natural gas. 
     
     
         40 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 39  wherein the first phase LNG regasification plant includes a first phase power generation facility for generating a supply of power using a first phase product stream of natural gas as a source of fuel to generate electricity. 
     
     
         41 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 40  wherein the first phase power generation facility is (a) arranged on the deck of the structure; or (b) arranged onshore; or (c) arranged offshore; or (d) a pre-existing onshore power plant. 
     
     
         42 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 39  wherein the first phase LNG regasification plant includes a first phase vaporised gas receiving facility arranged to receive a stream of vaporised natural gas from a first phase regasification facility and send out a first phase product stream of vaporised natural gas. 
     
     
         46 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 45  wherein the first phase vaporised gas receiving facility is arranged (a) on the deck of the structure; (b) onshore; or (c) offshore. 
     
     
         47 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 39  wherein the first phase LNG regasification plant includes a first phase regasification facility arranged to vaporise a first phase feed stream of LNG to produce a first phase stream of vaporised natural gas which is transferred to a first phase vaporised gas receiving facility. 
     
     
         50 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 49  wherein the first phase regasification facility is arranged (a) on the deck of the structure; or (b) onshore; or (c) offshore. 
     
     
         51 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the initial plant capacity is at least 0.5 million tons per year and the maximum feed processing capacity is at least 2 million tons per year. 
     
     
         54 . The LNG processing plant of  claim 1  wherein the first initial plant capacity is (a) at least 0.5 million tons per year and the maximum feed processing capacity is not greater than 50 million tons per year; or (b) at least 0.5 million tons per year and the maximum feed processing capacity is not greater than 70 million tons per year. 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A method of processing LNG in an LNG processing plant is positioned at a processing location adjacent to a body of water, the method comprising:
 A) providing a first phase LNG processing plant for processing an initial plant capacity of LNG, the first phase LNG processing plant comprising a plurality of first phase facilities, each first phase facility having plant equipment related to a pre-determined function associated with the processing of LNG, wherein one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities is arranged on a deck of a structure, wherein the deck is arranged above the level of the water at a selected offshore or near-shore location; and,   B) expanding the plant capacity of the first phase LNG processing plant in one or more incremental stages by providing one or more second phase facilities on the deck of the structure to provide a second phase LNG processing plant, said second phase LNG processing plant having a maximum plant capacity that is higher than the initial plant capacity, wherein the deck of the structure is sized to provide a pre-allocated space for the installation of the one or more second phase facilities on the deck of the structure.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  comprising the step of processing LNG from the first phase LNG processing plant during step B). 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56  comprising the step of (a) arranging the one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities towards a first end of the deck with the pre-allocated space being arranged towards a second opposite end of the deck; or (b) the one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities towards a first side of the deck with the pre-allocated space being arranged towards a second opposite side of deck. 
     
     
         59 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 56  comprising the step of sizing the one or more of the plurality of first phase facilities for processing both the initial plant capacity and the maximum plant capacity. 
     
     
         63 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 56  comprising the step of arranging the structure to provide a breakwater for an LNG Carrier at the selected location. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 56  comprising the step of moving the structure from a first processing location to a second processing location. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the LNG processing plant is an LNG production plant arranged to receive a feed stream of natural gas and liquefy the natural gas to produce a product stream of LNG. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the LNG processing plant is an LNG regasification plant arranged to receive a feed stream of LNG and vaporise the LNG to produce a product stream of natural gas. 
     
     
         71 - 72 . (canceled)