Qatar Petroleum (QP) has placed an order with Baker Hughes for multiple main refrigerant compressors for the North Field East (NFE) project.
This is among the largest deals Baker Hughes has won in the past five years.
The award is part of four mega trains, which will produce a total of 33 million tonnes per year. This will take Qatari liquefaction to 110mn tpy. The project should start up in 2025.
“This milestone deal illustrates the continued strength of Baker Hughes’ partnership with Qatar Petroleum, which began 25 years ago upon our delivery of the first LNG train in Qatar,” said Baker Hughes’ chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli.
“As we look ahead to the next two decades, in almost any scenario natural gas will be a key transition fuel, and likely a destination fuel for a lower carbon future. Building on our track record of delivering proven, reliable and highly efficient LNG technology, we remain committed to taking energy forward in Qatar for more years to come.”
Cutting emissions
Each MRC train includes three Frame 9E DLN Ultra Low NOx gas turbines and six centrifugal compressors. This means Baker Hughes will supply a total of 12 gas turbines to drive 24 centrifugal compressors. Packaging, manufacturing and testing of the gas turbine/compressor trains will take place at Baker Hughes’ facilities in Italy.
Qatargas is executing the project. It already operates six LNG mega trains using Frame 9E gas turbine compressors from Baker Hughes.
The service company said its compression technology would reduce CO2 emissions by 60,000 tpy per train. This comes without any reduction in liquefaction capacity.
QP is also planning a second phase expansion at the North Field. North Field South (NFS) will increase Qatari output to 126mn tpy, from 110mn tpy.