Use integrally geared compressors for small-scale LNG

D. GRABAU, Cameron Process and Compression Systems, Buffalo, New York In 2012, industry projections called for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to grow 4.5%/year (yr) to 2030. This forecast rate of growth is over twice the rate of gas production (2.1%/yr) and faster than inter-regional pipeline trade (3%/yr).1 Since 2000, challenges in LNG terminal construction have driven machine manufacturers to design larger LNG trains, many of which have utilized gas turbines. Plant capacities in the past decade have expanded from 3.5 million tons per year (MMtpy) to 5.5 MMtpy, primarily due to the availability of large gas fields. Today, smaller, more remote gas fields have combined with several m