There are fundamental differences between onshore process plant facilities and the offshore environments. An offshore LNG production plant will obviously have quite different technology selection criteria than onshore facilities. Process efficiencies will always be an important selection criterion because poor efficiency may reduce product yield, increased utility systems and refrigeration compressor capacity. However, in the offshore environment other aspects are also of high importance:

• Process plant compactness, low weight, and inherent process safety
• Limited space and availability for maintenance, and limited accommodation capacity are other parameters that must be considered
• Process robustness and the sensitivity to variable feed gas and process conditions must be taken into consideration
• Significantly higher start and stop frequency is likely, and simple and safe start and shutdown must be ensured
• Number of operators and their required education and training must be considered

For the above reasons it is usually concluded that offshore medium size LNG plants should be based on gas expander technologies, e.g. single or dual nitrogen expander cycles. KANFA Aragon has hence developed and patented the “Aragon’s Optimised Double Expander Cycle” and optimised it for offshore applications. It offers several improvements to the conventional nitrogen expander cycle:

• Up to 50% higher process efficiency than a conventional single nitrogen expander, but with the same low complexity and equipment count
• Uses well-proven equipment only 

• Superior when it comes to simplicity and operation 
• High inherent safety
• Simple to start, operate and shut down
• Simple refrigerant generation
• Robust for changes in feed gas composition 
• Insensitive to ship motions
• Intergrated NGL/LPG removal


KANFA’s project execution is flexible from technology licensing to procurement of liquefaction equipment and supply of complete topsides and modules!