With oil giant Shell poised to approve the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project off north-west Australia, the Subsea Australasia Conference is taking the opportunity to examine the groundbreaking technology as it moves towards the next frontier.
Organisers have announced FLNG will be the focus of one of seven topical seminars at the conference, to be held at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 23-25 February 2011.
Touted as a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to reach remote gas reserves than building onshore liquefaction facilities, an FLNG facility is either a ship or barge that can sail or be towed to offshore gas discoveries, extract the gas and offload it to tankers for shipping.
The conference seminar will bring together representatives from the region’s oil and gas leaders to explore the current and future technical and commercial aspects of FLNG.
“With global demand for liquefied natural gas expected to double by 2020 and most of the world’s easy to find gas reserves gone, FLNG is primed to meet the growth in the market,” said Arran Ewan, Business Development Manager at MCS Kenny and head of the planning committee for the FLNG seminar.
“The Australasian region offers significant FLNG opportunities and is likely to host the world’s first production facility by 2016, so there is no better time or place to examine this innovative technology than at Australia’s largest subsea event in February.”
A joint initiative between Subsea Energy Australia, Subsea UK, the Society for Underwater Technology and the Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition (AOG), the Subsea Australasia Conference is expected to attract more than 500 delegates and a diverse mix of local and overseas speakers.
The conference program will delve into other commercial and technical developments impacting the fast-growing subsea industry, with seminars focusing on global subsea markets, Australasian subsea markets, subsea integrity and environmental management, pipeline buckling, riser technology, and geophysics and geohazards.
AOG 2011 will also have a strong subsea focus with a dedicated Subsea Zone showcasing the latest products and projects from industry leaders such as GE Oil & Gas, FMC Technologies, J P Kenny, DOF Subsea, Neptune Marine, Cameron and Subsea 7.