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GE O&G '17: LNG experts discuss solutions to

cut emissions, expand production
An early-afternoon panel session on LNG technology was moderated by Pablo Avogadri,
Turbomachinery Solutions CMO for GE Oil & Gas.
Panelists included Tracy Lothian, Vice President of LNG Market Development for ExxonMobil; Sheikh
Khalid Bin Abdullah Al-Thani, COO of QatarGas; Daniel Kempf, Aeroderivatives Gas Turbines
Director for GE Oil & Gas; Nicola Marcucci, Executive Gas Turbine and Compressor Product Leader
for GE Oil & Gas; James Solomon, LNG Director for Air Products; and Geoffrey Byfield, Technology
Development Manager of LNG for Woodside Energy (Fig. 1, moderator with panelists shown left to
right).

Photo by Adrienne Blume.

The next generation of LNG exports. Mr. Avogadri opened the panel session by noting that, in the
next decade, up to 180 MMtpy of LNG export capacity are scheduled to take final investment
decision.
1D

Ms. Lothian spoke about how ExxonMobil is focused on collaboration to understand the
LNG-to-power value chain, especially for new customers. Much demand potential still exists, and this
will help new customers come online and new regasification projects start up, Ms. Lothian said.
However, "creativity is needed to make certain markets work," the VP noted. She pointed to
challenges in financing gas-to-power projects in Africa and to integrating new and evolving uses for
LNG, such as LNG for marine use and small-scale LNG for diesel displacement.
QatarGas optimizes turbine operation. Sh. Al-Thani then spoke about responding to new
challenges. QatarGas is on the forefront of natural gas production, liquefaction and exports, with LNG
production of 42 MMtpy from seven trains. One solution QatarGas is using to combat emissions and
improve the environmental performance of its LNG operations is to increase the capacity of its gas
turbines through fuel gas optimization.

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FEATURED COLUMNS

QatarGas operates 36 gas turbines, ranging from Frame 5 and Frame 6 to Frame 9. When the Qatari

1/31/2017 2:43 PM

GE O&G '17: LNG experts discuss solutions to cut emissions, expand p...

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http://www.gasprocessingnews.com/news/ge-og-17-lng-experts-discuss-...

government decided to limit NOx emissions to 61 ppm, the company was forced to modify its gas
turbines, which had emissions levels of 90 ppm of NOx.
The emissions reductions were achieved in two steps: (1) All standard combustion liners were
replaced with lean heat end liners, and (2) nitrogen-rich gas was qualified by a combustion dynamic
test on Train 1.
The test results indicated that the modifications reduced emissions by 10%, even less than the level
required by the government. The company plans to implement the modifications across all of the
turbines in its LNG operations.
New turbine designs for high efficiency, smaller footprint. Mr. Kempf then spoke about new gas
turbine technologies from GE, including the LM9000, which was revealed the night prior to the start of
the Annual Meeting. The aeroderivative turbine, which was also discussed by GE Oil & Gas
President and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli during the morning's plenary session, is a dual-fuel
compressor that features lower fuel costs, smaller footprint, fewer CO2 emissions, high-efficiency
power and speeds over a wide range of ambient conditions.
Mr. Marcucci offered information on GE's evolving technology platform for compressors. GE's
high-pressure ratio compressor (HPRC) has up to a 50% smaller train footprint, among other
features.
Expanding LNG options. The discussion then turned to evolving LNG technologies and uses. Mr.
Solomon spoke about the widening range of applications for LNG, including floating production
terminals, small-scale LNG plants and niche markets for LNG use. Air Products is looking forward to
working with GE to implement new drivers into upcoming LNG applications, he said.
Woodside's Mr. Byfield discussed how his company was the first to operate gas turbine-driven LNG
projects. Woodside looks forward to working with GE to incorporate new drivers and compressor
designs into future projects. Collaboration plans include the use of new technologies to keep costs
down, Mr. Byfield noted.
Stay tuned for more coverage. More coverage of key speaker presentations from the GE Oil & Gas
Annual Meeting is forthcoming. Keep an eye on this space for updates!

Editorial comment
-Adrienne Blume
New gas processing project announcements
have slowed due to energy price uncertainty
and the downturn in the oil market.

Executive Q&A viewpoint

-Bob Walsh
The GTL market has seen new and
smaller-scale technologies emerge over the
past several years as production of liquid fuels
from natural gas becomes more customized
and localized.

Industry outlook
-Sujit Potdar
Although LNG prices have hit a record low and
capital costs of new production terminals
continue to rise, a significant amount of
pressure is on the industry to increase
capacity by improving existing plant
efficiencies and constructing more facilities.

Regional focus
-Eugene Gerden
Russia is considering a significant increase in
LNG exports to Africa and the Middle East over
the next several years, according to the
Russian Ministry of Energy.

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