This paper discusses several key engineering considerations related to the FSRU (floating storage and regasification unit) system concept for offshore floating LNG (liquefied natural gas) receiving terminals based on the author's past project experience. It is not intended to provide an all-inclusive state-of-the-art review of offshore LNG transfer technology but rather to provide LNG project personnel with some valuable technical guidance during early phase of a FSRU project. The discussions in this paper cover important considerations for overall system marine operability, berth availability assessment, and preliminary design considerations of the FSRU system.
Recently, the demand for clean energy, such as LNG, has grown rapidly. Several offshore floating LNG receiving terminals have been proposed and one in the U.S. had been installed and is in operation. While there are many different system concepts for offshore LNG transfer applications, the two major concepts are FSRU and LNGC-RV (LNG Carrier Regasification Vessel).
Similar to the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) system for oil offloading, the FSRU system becomes one of the attractive alternative concepts being developed for offshore LNG transfer. One such example is the Broadwater FSRU (Broadwater Energy, 2007) which is proposed to be located offshore in Long Island Sound (Figure 1).
