Classification society ABS has granted an Approval in Principle (AIP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) deepwater floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) hull design.

The newbuilding conversion FLNG hull design for offshore application can be constructed for about 80 percent less than the cost of a conventional FLNG hull, according to HHI. It is based on LNG carrier designs combined with the requirements for FLNG production, such as structural reinforcements to take topside module load and a hull designed to allow up to 25 years operation without dry-docking.

A low cost near shore FLNG hull was developed and achieved ABS AIP in 2017. HHI and ABS have now worked to deliver this harsh environment deepwater hull to meet increasing market demand.

“In the current emerging gas market, a ready-to-convert offshore FLNG hull, with ABS certification, at affordable CAPEX is an important product for monetization of gas reserves around the globe,” said Hyungkwan Kim, Executive Vice President, Shipbuilding Division at HHI.

The design features a barge-shaped hull, a GTT Mark III containment system with storage for about 192,000m3, and provisions to accommodate an internal turret and 45,000-ton of topside modules to deliver 2.5 MTPA of LNG.