Posted by John Donovan: 27 Dec 2023
Shell’s gargantuan Prelude FLNG, floating off Western Australia like a beached whale, has finally seen a new LNG tanker grace its presence since its ‘scheduled’ maintenance started in August. This grand piece of engineering wizardry shut down for a few months of TLC, but, in true Shell style, they found a few extra chores and extended their spa break.
Reports have been floating around that the Prelude’s makeover is complete, but Shell plays coy, not confirming if their floating giant is ready for the ball. As of now, the Orion Bohemia, a sprightly 174,000-cbm LNG carrier, is hanging out at the FLNG, probably asking, ‘Are we there yet?’
When asked if this shiny new tanker is there to load the first LNG cargo post-maintenance, Shell responded with a classic, “We don’t have any updates on Prelude for now,” as told to LNG Prime. It’s like waiting for a text back from your crush – thrilling and mildly frustrating.
Let’s stroll down memory lane: The Prelude, a 488-meter-long behemoth (that’s longer than some countries’ coastlines), first shipped its cargo in June 2019, after what we’ll kindly call ‘a few hiccups’. It’s designed to pump out 3.6 mtpa of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate, and a dash of 0.4 mtpa of LPG. Shell’s the ringleader with a 67.5 percent stake, supported by an international fan club including Japan’s Inpex, South Korea’s Kogas, and Taiwan’s CPC.
Remember September last year? Prelude and its workers finally kissed and made up, ending a strike and resuming cargo ops. But, like a soap opera, the fun didn’t last. December brought a fire, and operations were paused faster than a dramatic pause in a telenovela. January saw a comeback, but May’s ‘trip’ (we’ve all been there) led to another brief intermission.
Disclaimer: Shell, if we’ve got our wires crossed, feel free to chime in. But it seems like the only thing more reliable than the Prelude’s schedule is its knack for unexpected drama.”
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