The world's first FLNG (Floating LNG production facility) has been launched in waters off Geoje, Korea.

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on December 3 that the Korean shipbuilding giant had succeeded in launching 'Prelude FLNG', the world's first LNG production facility, awarded from global oil major Royal Dutch Shell.

Through the successful launch of the FLNG without a problem of schedule, Samsung looks to be able to secure a further advantageous position in newbuilding competition for FLNG ahead.

To take advantage of various strengths of FLNG, major rivals of Shell are aggressively working towards gas field development utilizing FLNG in Australia, East Africa, Southeast Asia and so on. There are almost around 20 field development projects going on currently.

Particularly, the number of medium and small sized gas fields of less than 100m tons of reserves ensuring profitability through a medium sized FLNG reach about 350 around the world that FLNG market is anticipated to expand further going forward.

Meanwhile, Samsung also achieved a record of 'launching the world's largest offshore facility' through the Prelude FLNG.

As the world's largest offshore facility, Shell’s Prelude FLNG has 488m of length, 74m of breadth with 110m of height. When launched, the Prelude FLNG recorded around 200,000 tons of weight which is larger and heavier than any other vessels and offshore facilities launched so far.

The Korean builder will moor the Prelude FLNG at a quay wall upon launching and plans to carry out ▲ manufacturing of LNG storage tank to be installed inside of hull ▲ installation of topside plant facility ▲ fitting works for inside and outside of the facility over the next two years.

Particularly, the installation of an 80,000-ton plant facility on topside is said to be the core procedure of the project. Samsung is planning to manufacture it by dividing the facility into 14 modules of 6,000-ton and equip them in order with its 8,000-ton offshore crane.

Samsung President Park Dae-Young said, "During a construction procedure for the world's first and largest FLNG, we achieved another landmark," and added, "We will finish this project successfully through close cooperation with our customer Royal Dutch Shell, perfect quality and strict process management."

Moreover, Park mentioned, "As we are leading the FLNG sector, we will be also able to take an advantageous position in newbuilding competition further ahead."