A new floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port will supplement the Emirate's existing supplies of natural gas during summer peak demand, delivering environmental benefits and giving Dubai security of energy supply.
Halcrow was appointed by the LNG supplier, Shell Global Solutions International, to perform front end engineering and design (FEED) for this new import terminal.
The new facility will be created by converting and existing LNG carrier into a 126,000m3 floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) capable of supplying 3 million tonnes of gas a year. This FSRU will be permanently moored to a new jetty, and LNG carriers ranging from 70,000m3 to 210,000m3 in size will be intermittently moored alongside.
Halcrow worked with the client to take the floating terminal from concept through feasibility and into design development. Having reached this stage, Halcrow then was retained to provide the detailed design and to supervise construction.
The project consists of the floating storage regasification unit, which is permanently moored to the island berth; marine facilities, including mooring and breasting dolphins and a loading platform; a horizontally, directionally drilled, submarine pipeline linking the loading platform to an existing pipeline at the shoreline; and an onshore plot within Jebel Ali Port dedicated to supporting the LNG facility.
The loading platform was designed for both the floating case and for a potential later phase when the terminal will be converted into a conventional LNG import terminal. It was also designed to allow for expansion to accommodate the berthing of LNG carriers up to 267,000m3 in capacity.
In 2009 Halcrow was asked to perform a re-design of the facility to include a breakwater and additional dredging.
The project will bring considerable environmental benefits, as natural gas is less carbon intensive than the diesel fuels currently burnt for electricity production and other industrial processes in Dubai in the summer. The project will also assist in alleviating the emissions of key air pollutants such as sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulates.