Ronald R. Bowen

LNG Technology Advances and Challenges

This paper outlines the development and implementation of technologies that have led to a significant growth in the worldwide LNG business and offers a look at technology directions that may hold promise to help continue future growth. Among the key technical enablers has been the evolution in the size of LNG trains over the past twenty-five years, resulting in significant unit cost reduction. Similar to liquefaction facilities, LNG ships have also been increasing in size to achieve similar reductions in unit cost of LNG transported. Lessons learned in the design, execution, and implementation of large LNG trains and ships, as well as the overall changes of LNG liquefaction trains over the past twenty-five years, have been key to the evolving design of the LNG value chain.