Opportunities for increasing efficiency in small- to mid-scale LNG plants—Part 1

R. Galavotti, Consulting Engineer, Milan, Italy A few factors are incentivizing lifecycle cost (LCC)-focused production capacity for mid-scale LNG in a different technological context. These factors include the dramatic increase in cost experienced for projects after 2008, the risks of investments related to market uncertainties, the debut of floating LNG (FLNG) and the possibility to access open-art technologies for LNG liquefaction. Small-scale LNG plants (i.e., those with capacities of less than 1 metric MMtpy) can minimize the investment required by reducing capacity, thereby reducing risks for investors. However, efficiency is a significant driver in design when plants are based on a t