Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) certification to an ultra-deepwater large-scale Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) concept design jointly developed by CNPC Offshore Engineering, China Offshore Engineering & Technology, and China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Southwest Company.
The certified concept design targets ultra-deepwater energy development and represents a significant advancement in large-scale FLNG solutions. The project is designed for operations in water depths of up to 2,000m and harsh offshore environments.
The FLNG unit has an overall length of approximately 470m, a beam of 74m, and a depth of 44m, with a design service life of 25 years. It is capable of continuous operation under severe metocean conditions, with an annual LNG production capacity of approximately 5.8m tons. Total storage capacity reaches 330,000m³, including 57,000m³ of condensate storage.
BV conducted a technical assessment of the concept design, verifying its feasibility and safety in accordance with applicable IMO, IEC, and international offshore engineering standards, as well as local environmental requirements. Drawing on its offshore engineering experience, BV provided independent technical evaluation to facilitate the project’s further development.
Ultra-deepwater FLNG is seen as a key enabler for global energy supply and transition. The AiP certification highlights the growing capabilities of Chinese engineering companies in high-end offshore equipment development and supports the safe and compliant advancement of ultra-deepwater energy projects.
Image: Award of AiP certificate for the Chinese uptra-deepwater FLNG project (source: Bureau Veritas)
