ENB Pub Note: The article from LNG Prime did not have the specifics of the FLNG system in Africa, so it has been added at the top. This story is important as it is the first shipment filling some of the new storage expantion for LNG in China
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Name: Gimi FLNG
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Operator: Golar LNG (owns and operates the vessel under a 20-year lease and operate agreement with BP, signed February 2019).
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Location: Nearshore hub, approximately 10 km offshore on the Mauritania-Senegal maritime border in 30-meter water depth.
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Purpose: Liquefies natural gas from the GTA gas fields (Tortue and Ahmeyim) for global export and allocates some gas for domestic consumption in Mauritania and Senegal.
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Conversion: The Gimi FLNG was converted from a 1976-built Moss LNG carrier into an FLNG unit at Keppel Shipyard (Singapore) at a cost of approximately $1.3 billion, with a $700 million financing commitment secured in October 2019. Conversion began in 2019, and the vessel arrived at the GTA site on January 10, 2024.
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LNG Production Capacity:
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Designed to produce 2.3–2.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG on average for Phase 1, with a nameplate capacity of approximately 2.7 mtpa.
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Each of the four subsea wells feeding the system produces up to 200 million metric standard cubic feet per day (Mmscfd) of gas, with the FPSO processing up to 500 Mmscfd total.
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Gas Resources: The GTA fields hold an estimated 15 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of recoverable gas, with potential for expansion to 50–100 Tcf across the broader basin.
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Export and Domestic Allocation:
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The majority of LNG is for global – global export, primarily to Europe, with BP Gas Marketing off-taking the entire Phase 1 output under a 20-year agreement.
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A portion of the gas is allocated for domestic use in Mauritania and Senegal to meet growing energy demand.
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Subsea System: Four gas production wells (with potential for 12 total) in 2,850-meter water depth, clustered at one drill center, tied back 80 km to the FPSO via subsea pipelines. Components include large-bore deep-water horizontal X-mas trees, a dual-bore manifold, pipeline end manifold, subsea distribution units, and subsea isolation valves.
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FPSO:
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Located 40 km offshore in 100–120-meter water depth, moored at the site since June 2024.
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Processes up to 500 Mmscfd, removing water, condensate, and impurities.
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Constructed at COSCO Qidong Shipyard (China) with 81,000 tons of steel, 37 km of pipe spools, and 1.52 million meters of cable.
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Equipped with eight processing/production modules and accommodates up to 140 personnel.
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FLNG (Gimi):
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Receives processed gas via a 35 km pipeline from the FPSO.
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Uses Black & Veatch’s PRICO® liquefaction process to cryogenically cool and liquefy the gas.
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Stores LNG (125,000 m³ capacity) before transfer to LNG carriers for export.
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Protected by a 1 km breakwater (21 concrete caissons built by Eiffage Génie Civil Marine).
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Turbomachinery: Baker Hughes (BHGE) supplies four compressor trains, each with a PGT25+G4 aeroderivative gas turbine driving a centrifugal compressor.
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First Gas: Achieved on December 31, 2024, with gas flowing from wells to the FPSO for commissioning.
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First LNG Production: Expected in Q1 2025, with the first LNG cargo loaded by April 2025 (e.g., a méthanier carried ~74,500 tonnes in April 2025).
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Full Commissioning: Ongoing in 2025, with Phase 1 expected to produce 2.3 mtpa consistently.
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Delays: Initially planned for 2022, the project faced delays due to COVID-19 (force majeure declared in 2020), technical issues with the FPSO, and complex cross-border coordination. The schedule was extended by 11 months in 2020.
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Completion: Phase 1 was 90% complete by July 2023, with all major components (FPSO, FLNG) on-site by mid-2024.
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Phase 2:
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Approved in February 2023, using a gravity-based structure (GBS) for an additional 2.5–3 mtpa capacity, powered by electricity.
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Construction planned for 2025, with completion targeted for 2027.
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Future Potential:
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The GTA-1 well (drilled 2019) confirmed 30 meters of net gas pay, indicating potential to expand beyond 10 mtpa.
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The broader basin may hold up to 1,133 billion cubic meters of gas, supporting additional phases.
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Cost: Phase 1 total cost is ~$4.8 billion, with FLNG conversion at $1.3 billion.
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Economic Benefits:
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Positions Mauritania and Senegal as an LNG production hub, with 50/50 resource/revenue sharing per the 2018 inter-government cooperation agreement.
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Boosts local economies (e.g., fishing, mining, women’s cooperatives) and provides domestic gas for energy needs.
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Social Investments: BP’s multi-million-dollar program supports community health, education, environmental awareness, and a 47-apprentice training program for local technicians.
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Environmental Concerns:
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Threatens the world’s largest cold-water coral reef and migratory bird populations.
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Permanent lighting on platforms attracts fish to exclusion zones, impacting local fishing communities.
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Critics argue it locks both nations into fossil fuel dependency.
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FLNG Contracts:
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Golar LNG: 20-year lease/operate agreement for Gimi FLNG.
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Black & Veatch: PRICO® liquefaction process.
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Baker Hughes: Turbomachinery (four compressor trains).
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Other Contracts:
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Technip Energies: EPCIC for FPSO.
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Eiffage Génie Civil Marine/Saipem: EPCI for nearshore terminal breakwater.
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KBR: EPCM for facilities integration and FEED for Phases 2–3.
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Nexans: 100 km of subsea umbilicals.
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Disputes: The International Chamber of Commerce ruled in 2024 that BP is the exclusive LNG buyer, restricting Kosmos Energy from selling to third parties until 2033.
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Global Energy Role: GTA Phase 1 supports Europe’s energy needs amid reduced Russian gas supplies and contributes to global LNG demand.
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Regional Impact: Declared a “project of strategic national importance” by both Mauritania and Senegal in 2021, GTA positions the region as a new gas basin with long-term revenue potential.
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Challenges: Infrastructure development (e.g., Taoudenni Basin), technical complexities, and environmental opposition pose risks.
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Vessel: Gimi FLNG, converted LNG carrier, operated by Golar LNG.
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Capacity: 2.3–2.5 mtpa (2.7 mtpa nameplate), processing gas from 500 Mmscfd via FPSO.
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Location: 10 km offshore, 30-meter depth, protected by a 1 km breakwater.
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Process: PRICO® liquefaction, storing 125,000 m³ LNG for export/domestic use.
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Status: First gas achieved December 31, 2024; first LNG cargo expected Q1 2025.
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Expansion: Phase 2 (2.5–3 mtpa) planned for 2025–2027, with potential for >10 mtpa.
Last month, the 2019-built 173,400-cbm, British Sponsor, which is on charter to BP, loaded the first GTA shipment.
According to its AIS data provided by VesselsValue, the LNG carrier was located in the South China Sea on Friday, with a final destination in Guangdong, China.
The Guangdong Dapeng LNG terminal, in which BP has a stake, is located in Guangdong.
Kpler also said in a report on Thursday that British Sponsor was sailing toward Guangdong, carrying the first LNG export from the GTA FLNG project.
“Next in line is the British Achiever, now positioned alongside Gimi to begin loading the second cargo,” Kpler said.
BP operates GTA with a 56 percent working interest alongside Kosmos Energy (27 percent), Petrosen (10 percent), and SMH (7 percent).
The first phase of the project features Golar LNG’s FLNG Gimi and the Tortue FPSO.
The partners previously signed a sales and purchase agreement under which BP Gas Marketing will offtake 2.45 million tonnes per annum of LNG from the first phase of the GTA project for an initial term of up to 20 years.
US-based Kosmos recently said that the partners were loading the second GTA LNG cargo.
Kosmos said that GTA production in the first quarter averaged approximately 1,300 boepd net (7.8 mmcfd).
The firm noted that all four FLNG trains are now operational and are being tested at about 10 percent above the nameplate capacity.
In addition, Kosmos also said that the partnership has started work on Phase 1+, a low-cost brownfield expansion of the development that is expected to double gas sales through increased LNG production and domestic gas.
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