North Field East Project : Air Products to provide LNG technology and equipment

US industrial gases company Air Products has been selected to deliver its AP-X Natural Gas Liquefaction Process technology and equipment for Qatar Petroleum’s North Field East Project (NFE Project) in Ras Laffan, Qatar.

The contract was awarded for the first phase of the integrated LNG production expansion project by Qatar Petroleum’s subsidiary  Qatargas.

The North Field East Project, which will involve the construction of four LNG production trains with each having a capacity of 7.8 million tonnes per year.

The LNG trains are expected to begin production of LNG in 2025 by liquefying natural gas draw from the North Field in Qatari waters. The integrated LNG project includes the drilling of 80 development wells during the first phase at the offshore North gas field, which was launched in April 2020.

Dr. Samir J. Serhan – chief operating officer at Air Products said: “The truest sign of a satisfied customer is one that comes back and places another order, and Air Products is both pleased and proud that our premier technology was selected again for the newest phase of this massive LNG expansion project in Qatar.

“Our AP-X liquefaction technology sets the standard for the industry and offers the largest LNG process trains in the world, satisfying our customer’s desire to reduce capital cost per tonne of LNG produced via economy of scale. These immense AP-X units have a process production capacity that is 50 percent larger than any other LNG train in operation and positions Air Products well for any customer requiring larger LNG process trains.”

A heat exchanger manufacturing facility of Air Products in Port Manatee, Florida. Photo courtesy of Mandusha Films/Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Air Products said that it had provided major equipment and technology for all of the 14 existing LNG trains operating in Ras Laffan. The first of these LNG trains began production in 1996 using the US industrial gases company’s AP-C3MRTM LNG technology.

The AP-C3MR LNG Process units were followed by half a dozen AP-X LNG Process units from Air Products, which began operations between 2009 and 2011.

Air Products said that the equipment supplied with the AP-X natural gas liquefaction technology are main cryogenic heat exchangers (MCHEs), subcooling heat exchangers (SCHEs), and Rotoflow turbomachinery companders and nitrogen economizer cold boxes. The company will manufacture the AP-X LNG heat exchangers at its manufacturing facility in Port Manatee, Florida.