GE Oil & Gas announced that it is providing both technology and capital to help expedite construction of the Freeport LNG gas liquefaction and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Southeast Texas.
GE is supplying the main refrigeration compressors, variable-speed drive electric motors and other electrical equipment for two customized LNG liquefaction trains, each of which will produce a base volume of 4.4mtpa of LNG. In addition, GE is providing financing to support the project through pre-construction engineering and design.
In a transformation of its energy fortunes, the shale gas boom gives the United States the potential to become one of the globe’s largest LNG exporters. Freeport LNG will play a vital role in maximizing the value of this abundant and affordable shale gas, becoming the first world-scale electric liquefied natural gas (eLNG) plant in North America. Using GE’s electric motor driven technology has enabled Freeport LNG to comply with strict local emissions standards and support its ambitious LNG production and export targets.
Freeport LNG says through GE’s technology, financial expertise and ability to address environmental challenges in a cost-effective manner, GE is helping to create the lowest air emissions and carbon footprint in the US LNG industry.
GE will supply two liquefaction trains with an integrated solution consisting of:
The Freeport eLNG project is unique in electric power systems design and implementation. The plant will feature all-electric drive compression directly connected at the utility incoming transmission voltage level. The power systems engineering study and design for Freeport uses the deep power systems expertise of GE’s Energy Consulting team.
GE will build and package the refrigeration trains in Florence, Italy and tests will be conducted in Massa, Italy. They are due to be delivered in Texas in 2016 and be fully operational by 2017.
