Wison Offshore & Marine Ltd., Shanghai, has completed engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for the first barge-based floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) for Exmar NV, Antwerp.
Upon undocking from its dry dock in Nantong, China, Wison completed topside installation on the FSRU, paving the way for the unit’s delivery to Exmar, the service company said on Jan. 25.
Using a modular strategy, Wison built the FSRU’s hull and topside modules simultaneously to reduce safety risks, improve construction quality, and shorten the delivery schedule.
As part of the project, Wison said it additionally developed a proprietary cargo containment and handling system for self-supporting, prismatic shape, IMO type B (SPB) LNG storage tanks built for the FSRU by IHI Corp. of Japan.
While Wison did not disclose a detailed timeframe for the FSRU’s delivery, Exmar most recently told investors it expects delivery sometime during second-quarter 2017.
Exmar FSRU
The first-ever unit to be built with small-scale storage capacity, the nonpropelled FSRU barge has a regasification capacity of 600 MMcfd and is equipped with two 12,500-cu m SPB LNG-storage cargo tanks installed in the hull.
Wison’s scope of work on the FSRU follows Exmar and joint-venture partner Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp.’s award of an EPC contract for the project in February 2014, according to separate releases from Exmar and Wison on Feb. 2, 2014, and Feb. 11, 2014, respectively.
As of yearend 2016, marketing and negotiations with prospective clients for long-term employment of the new $167-million, barge-based FSRU were still ongoing, Exmar said in a Sept. 29, 2016, presentation to investors.
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].