Bill Sember discusses 5 key technology trends for natural gas in 2015: 1) New containment system designs to reduce boil-off and improve efficiency; 2) Small-scale LNG projects and infrastructure to access new markets; 3) Continued growth in LNG as a fuel for ships despite temporary effects of lower oil prices; 4) Development of dual-fuel and gas-powered main engines; 5) Potential for US LNG exports to Asia through the expanded Panama Canal, driving demand for new transport vessels. Sember predicts LNG will continue growing through technology and innovation in coming years.

1. Views of:
Bill Sember,Vice President – Global Gas Marketing,ABS
5 Technology Trends
for Natural Gas in 2015

2. 1- Containment Systems
“We will see - and have already seen – the application of new designs and
technologies in gas containment systems. In most cases , these have been
designed to reduce boil-off and be more in line with the demands of more
efficient engine designs. Shipyards have also been busy developing their
containment system designs as evidenced by both Korean and Japanese efforts.
LNG carriers on order are being built with NO 96 and MK III tanks, SPB
tanks, Moss tanks and now KC-1 tanks.”

3. 2- Small Scale LNG
“Another continuing trend will be in the sizing down of LNG projects to enable
them to serve a far more diverse range of energy demands. Small scale LNG
carriers and FLNG facilities will enable importers to receive gas in smaller
quantities and at lower cost than has previously been possible. This will see a
scaling down of production facilities as well as containment systems, towards the
level of LNG bunkering and barges, perhaps with greater use of larger type C
tanks and membrane systems designed to handle quantities in the range of
20,000 to 30,000 m3.”

4. 3- LNG as Fuel
“The interest in LNG as Fuel is going to continue regardless of the temporary
effects of the lower oil price. Cheaper oil will have an impact in terms of
export gas prices, but it may have positive supply benefits in Asia for
example, where the price has been high. In shipping the trend towards LNG
as Fuel is driven by regulation and this won’t change.The industry is getting
more and more experience with LNG as fuel and we could soon see
applications expand beyond that of OSVs and ferries to the global fleet.”

5. 4- Main Propulsion
“The main engine makers have forged ahead on dual fuel or gas-powered
engines and are working on further applications. Wartsila has already
delivered dual fuel diesel-electric units, while MAN B&W is supplying
slow-speed dual-fuel engines.These manufacturers along with others are
also looking at the next stage - engines powered by methanol and ethane -
as new gas trades emerge requiring dedicated tonnage.”

6. 5- US Export Trades
“This is the area that is most at the mercy of price developments, but there is still
a positive future for US gas exports. Granted, some projects have slowed while
others have been shelved for the present but for well-funded exporters out of the
US Gulf, the expanded Panama Canal appears to offer a cost-effective route for
exports to Asia. That this has taken place is a reversal of expectations; many
overseas LNG projects were developed with exports to the US in mind.

7. “The fact that the US is already an exporter of LPG and is expanding its
ethane capacity and could soon be exporting LNG demonstrates how
susceptible to change this market can be. As a result gas carriers will
continue to evolve to accommodate the increased supply of ethane
available for export from the US. Ethane carriers have been ordered with
a capacity of 87,000 m3 and are fully refrigerated. Additional vessels are
being ordered to carry ethylene and others are being designed with
flexibility to carry a combination of cargos such as ethane, ethylene or
LNG. I would expect this trend to continue as a result of large quantities
of natural gas liquids from the US fracking efforts.”

8. “As we have, seen the future is anything but predictable however we
can take a long term look at the industry and feel confident that LNG
will continue to grow as an industry while technology and innovation
will continue to change at an accelerated pace for years to come.”
To further discuss key technology trends in the natural
gas industry, join Bill Sember at Gastech Singapore this
October.
Views of Bill Sember,Vice President – Global Gas Marketing,
ABS

9. Pictures - sources:
1-http://www.lngworldnews.com/abs-extends-kc-1-lng-cargo-containment-system-design-approval/
2- http://www.linde-engineering.com.hk/en/process_plants/liquefied_natural_gas/small_to_midscale_lng_plants/index.html
3- http://www.green4sea.com/abs-releases-guide-lng-fuel-ready-vessels/
4- http://www.wartsila.com/en/engines/df-engines/wartsila46df
5- https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3390040/all

10. Pictures - sources:
1-http://www.lngworldnews.com/abs-extends-kc-1-lng-cargo-containment-system-design-approval/
2- http://www.linde-engineering.com.hk/en/process_plants/liquefied_natural_gas/small_to_midscale_lng_plants/index.html
3- http://www.green4sea.com/abs-releases-guide-lng-fuel-ready-vessels/
4- http://www.wartsila.com/en/engines/df-engines/wartsila46df
5- https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3390040/all