Targeting the Asian market, Royal Dutch Shell, along with its Joint Venture Partners Japan’s INPEX, South Korea’s KOGAS and US-based OPIC, announced on 11 June that the first shipment of Liquefied Natural Gas has sailed from Shell’s Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility located 475 kilometres North East of Broome in Western Australia. The Valencia Knutsen will deliver this shipment to customers in Asia.

“Today’s first shipment of LNG departed from Prelude FLNG, safely,” Integrated Gas and New Energies Director Maarten Wetselaar said. “Everyone involved should be very proud of the work taken to reach this important milestone. Prelude forms an integral part of our global portfolio and plays an important role in meeting the growing demand for more and cleaner energy for our customers around the world,” he added.

Shell Australia Chairman Zoe Yujnovich noted that Prelude FLNG combines human endeavour and ingenuity from across the globe and in Australia. “We are proud to work with our local communities, suppliers and partners to ensure its safe, reliable operations into the future,” he said.

The Shell-operated Prelude FLNG facility is an offshore development that will produce natural gas from a remote field approximately 475km north-northeast of Broome in Western Australia. The Prelude FLNG facility will produce 3.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate and 0.4 mtpa of LPG. The Prelude FLNG facility is operated by Shell in a joint venture with INPEX (17.5%), KOGAS (10%) and OPIC (5%).