EMEA News
Excelerate Claims LNG Bunkering World First for FSRU at Jebel Ali
Excelerate Energy (Excelerate) has claimed a bunkering world first following upgrades to its floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Explorer.
The FSRU was said to have received a "significant upgrade" with the addition of what was said to be the world's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker port installed in an FSRU.
"The bunker port enables small-scale LNG offtakers to bunker LNG directly from the Explorer," said Excelerate.
"This added versatility allows Excelerate to facilitate [Dubai Supply Authority (DUSUP)] in providing small-scale LNG supply services to the local region."
Excelerate says Explorer is currently under long-term charter to DUSUP at the Jebel Ali LNG Import Terminal.
Performance tests were said to show the benefit of other recent upgrades, with Explorer now reported to have an "unprecedented" sendout capacity for a FSRU of 1.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfpd).
"This added versatility allows Excelerate to facilitate DUSUP in providing small-scale LNG supply services to the local region," said the company, noting that Explorer's increased regasification capacity also enables DUSUP to import more LNG cargoes during the year.
A dual-fuel diesel generator power module is also said to have been added to the FSRU to provide increased fuel-efficiency in power generation for FSRU services.
"Even though the Explorer was commissioned in 2008, with upgrades, she has achieved the highest sendout rate of any FSRU in the world" said Rob Bryngelson, president and CEO of Excelerate, adding, "proving that a newbuild FSRU is not always the best option, especially when timing is critical."
Last year, collapsing oil prices led Texas-based Excelerate to place a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project on hiatus.
