NETDA-made FLNG vessel produces 2.4m tons of LNG per year

A FLNG vessel manufactured by Wison. [Photo/netda.gov.cn]

The floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel manufactured by Wison New Energies in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA) can produce 2.4 million metric tons of LNG per year.

Measuring 350 meters in length, the FLNG vessel, which is still under construction, will serve as an offshore factory, purifying the natural gas extracted from gas fields and compressing it into a liquid form, explained Shen Jianrong, general manager of Wison New Energies' Nantong base.

Unlike traditional offshore natural gas extraction equipment, FLNG vessel can move from gas fields in different sea areas, Shen added.

In recent years, due to changes in the global energy supply-demand structure, oil and gas companies have begun utilizing FLNG vessels to develop offshore natural gas. Currently, there are eight FLNG vessels in operation globally, with one delivered by Wison. Among the five vessels under construction, two are being built by Wison.

Shen noted that Wison has mastered the mass production technology required to produce medium-thick plate aluminum alloy structures, with the volume of a storage tank reaching 47,000 cubic meters. It has become the first company in China to produce "key modules" for large-scale offshore LNG storage and transportation.

Wison has set up a provincial-level enterprise technological center, employs over 600 researchers, and possesses 158 authorized patents. It has the potential to serve as a turnkey provider of FLNG projects covering design, purchase, construction, installation, and debugging.

The enterprise now has orders valued at 35 billion yuan ($4.82 billion), more than 90 percent of which come from overseas clients.

To maintain its leading position in the LNG storage sector, Wison will invest 1 billion yuan in R&D over the following three years, providing more competitive solutions to its clients around the world.