
Floating LNG
Prelude is Shell’s first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility,an offshore development that will produce natural gas from a remote field in Western Australia.
Global energy demand is expected to grow by 30% between 2015 and 2040, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) New Policies Scenario. Prelude FLNG will help to meet this growing demand, by providing more natural gas.
Floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) technology is complementary to conventional onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) as it helps to accelerate the development of gas resources to meet the world’s growing demand.
How does FLNG technology work?
FLNG technology makes the production, liquefaction and storage of natural gas possible at sea. LNG is transferred directly from the floating facility to specific carriers, for convenient shipping to countries around the world.
Natural gas is produced from underwater fields then processed and chilled to -162° Celsius (-260° Fahrenheit). This shrinks its volume by 600 times to create LNG. The advanced design of an FLNG facility packs a typical land-based LNG plant into a fraction of its normal size.

Prelude FLNG will be the world’s largest offshore floating facility
Into reality: Prelude FLNG
Shell is taking great strides towards delivering the Prelude FLNG facility. Prelude is now on location, 475km (295 miles) north north-east of Broome, Western Australia.
Once operational, Prelude FLNG will produce 3.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG, 1.3 mtpa of condensate and 0.4 mtpa of LPG.
Safety in design
Shell has made safety the central focus of FLNG technology since we began developing it in the 1990s. We have incorporated proven LNG technologies and developed new ones to ensure the Prelude facility can operate safely at sea. Prelude is designed to remain in place in severe weather conditions and even withstand a 1-in-10,000-year storm.
Built to last
The Prelude facility is designed to remain at sea for around 25 years. It will be moored in the Browse Basin off the north-west coast of Australia, in about 250 metres of water. FLNG facilities can be re-deployed to develop new gas fields.
Reduced impact
FLNG technology offers countries a more environmentally-sensitive way to develop natural gas resources. Prelude will have a much smaller environmental footprint than land-based LNG plants, which require major infrastructure works. It also eliminates the need for long pipelines to land.
Benefits to Australia
Over the lifespan of Prelude, the project is expected to add billions of dollars of revenue to Australia’s economy, create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, spend billions of dollars on Australian goods and services and improve the country’s balance of trade through export of LNG, LPG and condensate.
The Prelude FLNG story in film
Mooring Prelude
Title: Mooring prelude
Duration: 5:03 minutes
Description:
A short video showcasing the mooring of leg number eight on Shell’s Prelude, the largest floating facility ever built, to make it storm safe.
[Background music plays]
Rhythmic instrumental music featuring synthesised musical effects
[Video footage]
Wide-angled view of a rigging crew doing a series of exercises to get their muscles warmed up.
[Voiceover]
200 kilometres off the coast of north-western Australia, a rigging crew is about to start the day.
[Video footage]
Shot panning left to right of a rigging crew standing in a circle formation. Close-up of the crew leader addressing the crew. Close-up of several of the crew members. Back to close-up of the crew leader.
[Crew Leader]
We are up to mooring leg number eight. Don’t become complacent. We’re halfway through it. We’ll get the next eight done safely.
[Voiceover]
But this is no ordinary day at the office because they are about to moor the largest floating facility ever built.
[Video footage]
Shot taken over the ocean, panning upwards, bringing the Prelude into view at dawn. Aerial shot of the Prelude and three tugs, text appearing at the bottom.
[Text displays]
Mooring Prelude
[Video footage]
Close-up of the Prelude hull, panning upwards. Wide-angled view of Damian Wake walking on the Prelude. Close-up of Damian talking whilst he continues walking. Reverse-angled shot of Damian walking. Wide-angled view of Damian walking and talking, looking straight into the camera.
[Damian Wake]
Like, it is absolutely fantastic. I mean, I’ve had, what, four or five years I’ve been thinking about the mooring system. To now actually be here pulling these things in, fantastic. I am absolutely stoked, honestly.
[Voiceover]
At 660,000 tonnes when fully loaded, Prelude weighs six times more than the largest aircraft carriers in the world, and it will operate in an area known for extreme weather conditions.
[Video footage]
Aerial shot of the Prelude during daytime. Zoom in slowly. Shot of fast-moving, dark clouds.
Interview with Damian Wake
[Text displays]
Damian Wake
Offshore Installation Lead
[Title]
Offshore Installation Lead
Damian Wake
The need for this mooring system to work is critical. We could hit the cyclones and this mooring system will hold us in place.
[Video footage]
Close-up of Damian speaking to off-screen interviewer against an out-of-focus background on the Prelude.
[Voiceover]
To do that, the project team has created one of the strongest mooring systems ever built. Deep inside Prelude is a turret that allows the facility to rotate or weathervane. Beneath Prelude, one of the largest chains in the world. Nearly 25,000 links attached to mooring piles drilled deep into the ocean floor. Now the team is preparing to connect chain number eight, making Prelude officially storm safe.
[Video footage]
Shot panning left to right taken at sea of a tug sailing away from the Prelude. To the right of the Prelude is another tug.
[Animation]
Animation of the Prelude set against a backdrop of blue sky with white clouds. Underneath the water surface, a series of chains. In the top left-hand corner, a logo and text reading TechnipFMC.
[Video footage]
Sped-up sequence showing the turret being brought over to the Prelude and placed onto it using a series of cranes. Sped-up sequence via an overhead shot of the turret being lowered into place while various engineers look on. Wide-angled view of some large machinery making chain links. Close-up of a chain link being welded into shape. Wide-angled view of a production facility with a large pile of chain links in the foreground. Side-angled shot of a mooring pile suspended to a crane-like structure, ready to be lowered into the ocean. Overhead shot panning down slowly of a mooring pile.
[Animation]
Animation of the Deep Orient lowering a section of chain into the ocean. In the bottom right-hand corner, text reading Technip. Animation below the sea surface showing the chain being lowered. Animation of a chain being hauled as the yellow socket locks it into place.
[Damian Wake]
And what’s absolutely incredible about this, they’ll be pulling in [CDTS1] one or two links that they’ve already predetermined during the pre-lay, which is quite an incredible feat of engineering and installation.
[Video footage]
Close-up of Damian talking to off-screen interviewer against an out-of-focus background on the Prelude.
[Voiceover]
The operation to moor Prelude begins with the rigging team making the steep descent into the bowels of the turret. Outside, three tugs are holding Prelude in position. The crew on the Deep Orient has retrieved the mooring line. On Prelude, a giant winch is standing by to haul in the chain, and the engineers are ready to monitor each and every move. Everything is in place.
[Video footage]
Wide-angled shot panning left to right of three tugs and the Prelude at dawn. Wide-angled shot taken inside the turret showing an engineer climbing down a ladder. Close-up of an engineer climbing down a ladder into the turret. Close-up of three chains, panning left, bringing several engineers who are talking into focus. Wide-angled view of the three tugs holding the Prelude in position. Shot panning left to right of the Deep Orient. Close-up of the giant winch on the Deep Orient. Shot of two operators sitting in a cabin on the Deep Orient monitoring the winch. Close-up panning upwards of two engineers in a room with lots of papers and radios in front of them. Aerial shot of the Prelude showing its two helidecks.
[Damian Wake]
All positioned, ready to go, so it’s now up to the team on-board to finish the job.
[Video footage]
Close-up of Damian speaking to off-screen interviewer. Close-up of the crew leader and a member of the rigging crew. Reverse-angled shot of two crew members inside the turret. Close-up of the crew leader talking into his radio. Shot of two operators sitting in a cabin on the Deep Orient monitoring the winch, one the men speaks into a radio.
[Crew leader]
Yellow winch pay in, easy.
[Operator]
Yes, pay in five metres.
[Video footage]
Close-up of the winch starting to turn. Shot of a chain beginning to be lowered into the ocean, two members of the rigging crew to the side. Aerial shot of the Deep Orient.
[Damian Wake]
This is the main event. We are pulling in the chains one by one and connecting them off. This is the culmination of years of planning to bring this to a head. Awesome, absolutely awesome.
[Video footage]
Close-up shot of the chain being lowered taken from an underwater camera. Text on the bottom displaying coordinates, depth and altitude data.
[Text displays]
E: 534396.9 N: 8475845.8
HDG: 270.5 DEPTH: 57.9 ALT: 0.0
[Video footage]
Close-up of Damian talking to off-screen interviewer inside the turret. In the background, two rigging crew members. Aerial shot of the Deep Orient and the Prelude. Close-up of the crew leader speaking into his radio.
[Crew leader]
Remazel winch, copy. Yes, what loads have we got on the winch at the moment?
[Voiceover]
Slowly but surely the winch hauls in the chain.
[Video footage]
Close-up of the chain being hauled in. Close-up, side-angled view of an engineer speaking into a radio while closely watching a laptop showing the chain being hauled in. Side-angled view of the two operators on the Deep Orient operating the winch.
[Engineer]
Winch good to go another four metres. Pay in four metres.
[Operator]
Yeah mate, coming up.
[Voiceover]
And it begins to emerge.
[Video footage]
Sped-up sequence taken from overhead inside the turret. Close-up of deep blue water. Close-up of the crew leader speaking straight into the camera.
[Crew leader]
You can probably see the yellow socket just over the side here.
[Video footage]
Wide-angled shot taken inside the turret, just under the surface of the water a yellow socket starts to come into view. Close-up of two members of the rigging crew. Close-up taken from an underwater camera of the chain being hauled upwards through the chain connector. Reverse-angled shot of an engineer, out-of-focus, looking at a laptop showing the chain and chain connector. Back to the underwater close-up of the chain connector. Close-up of Damian talking to off-screen interviewer in the turret whilst gesticulating with his hands.
[Damian Wake]
That bang you just heard are as the chain comes through the chain connector, the engineers are looking for a particular link and that’s when they know they are, they’ve pulled the chain into the right length and that is what then holds us in place to the seabed.
[Video footage]
Reverse-angled view of a rigging crew member in the turret looking upwards. Close-up, reverse-angled view of a rigging crew member looking down at the pool in the turret. Close-up of the chain being hauled up slowly out of the water. Close-up of the winch turning. Close-up taken from an underwater camera of the socket locking the chain into place. Close-up of the crew leader speaking into his radio.
[Voiceover]
A final turn of the winch… and the last link locks into place.
[Crew leader]
Dive control, turret.
[Engineer]
Copy.
[Crew leader]
Confirm please that the golden links are sitting nicely.
[Engineer]
Yes, that’s correct.
[Crew leader]
Yes, understood. We’re clear to release the load.
[Engineer]
All stop on the main winch.
[Operator]
That’s all stop, mate. All stop.
[Video footage]
Close-up of an engineer talking into his radio. Back to close-up of the crew leader talking into his radio. Close-up taken from an underwater camera of the socket. Back to close-up of the crew leader talking into his radio. Close-up shot panning left to right of two engineers looking at a laptop, one engineer speaking into a radio. Side-angled view of the Deep Orient operators operating the winch, one of them talking into a radio.
[Voiceover]
And with the eighth mooring line connected, Prelude is storm safe.
[Video footage]
Aerial view of the Prelude, the Deep Orient and the three tugs. Shot of several members of the rigging crew in the turret shaking hands, congratulating each other. Close-up of the two engineers fist-bumping.
[Engineer]
Making history.
[Video footage]
Side-angled view of the two Deep Orient operators high-fiving, then one pats the other on the back. Close-up of a chain link, going out-of-focus. Coming into focus as seen through the opening of the chain link, several rigging crew members still inside the turret. Reverse-angled view of the crew leader inside the turret looking over to the other side of the pool where members of the rigging crew are still at work. Close-up of Damian speaking straight into the camera.
[Damian Wake]
So this is one of the 16 mooring lines that will secure the Prelude facility to the seabed for the next 25 years. This is number eight, so we’re not going anywhere. This is fantastic. Great job. Thank you very much.
[Video footage]
Close-up of several chains and their sockets underwater. Shot of Damian shaking hands with the rigging crew leader. They both turn towards the camera and give two thumbs up. Aerial shot of the Prelude, Deep Orient and the three tugs at dusk, zooming out slowly, text appearing at the bottom.
[Text displays]
Prelude FLNG
#makethefuture
[Audio]
Shell jingle
[Graphic]
Shell Pecten centred on a white background with text displaying below
[Text displays]
© Shell International Limited 2017
Watch: Prelude FLNG is home
Title: Prelude is Home
Duration: 1:04 Minutes
Description:
A video that shows the Prelude FLNG facility being towed to Australia.
[Music]
Inspirational music begins.
[Video]
Wide shot of Prelude FLNG at SHI shipyard.
[Video]
Footage of Prelude FLNG being towed away from the quay.
[Video]
Aerial shot of Prelude FLNG being spun around.
[Video]
Prelude FLNG passing through frame.
[Video]
Shots of Prelude at sea.
[Video]
Wide shot of Prelude at sea.
[Video]
Shots of Prelude at sea from above
[Video]
Shots of Prelude in sunset
[Video]
Shots of Prelude crew waving to camera.
[Video]
Shell Pecten.
[Music Ends]
Watch: Prelude starts its journey to Western Australia
Title: Prelude at Sea
Duration: 1:04 Minutes
Description:
A video that shows the Prelude FLNG facility being towed to Australia.
[Music]
Inspirational music begins.
[Video]
Wide shot of Prelude FLNG at SHI shipyard.
[Video]
Footage of Prelude FLNG being towed away from the quay.
[Video]
Aerial shot of Prelude FLNG being spun around.
[Video]
Prelude FLNG passing through frame.
[Video]
Shots of Prelude at sea.
[Video]
Wide shot of Prelude at sea.
[Video]
Shots of Prelude at sea from above
Caption: And more and cleaner energy for the world.
[Video]
Shots of Prelude in sunset
[Video]
Shots of Prelude crew waving to camera.
[Video]
Shell Pecten.
[Text]
Make the Future.
[Music Ends]
Watch: Prelude FLNG Project in 2016
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting orchestral music
[Video footage]
Scene showing the smooth surface of the sea, zooming out to show a red gas platform with tall crane the top of which is off camera.
[Text displays]
PRELUDE IN 2016
Camera zooms in to show machinery onboard ship and crew members wearing hard hats walking towards ship. Scene changes to show steam blowing at a distance.
[James Nafraicheur]
Pipe Engineering lead
[James Nafraicheur]
2016, obviously it’s about steam blowing.
[Video footage]
Scene shows workers atop a tall platform.The shadows of steam blowing show on landscape.
[Text displays]
Steam blowing, Geoje.
[James Nafraicheur]
Our pipes are behaving well. Nice, white clouds. We’re happy, job done.
[Video footage]
Shot of steam blowing above.
[James Nafraicheur]
When you see basically what you have designed through the years turning into life, it gives you a great feeling.
[Video footage]
James standing in front of machinery wearing hard hat and safety glasses. Scene changes to show steam being blown at distance.
Shots show tankers at sea.
[Text displays]
Mooring piles, Australia.
[Video footage]
Scene showing same tankers taken from above.
[Nine Andresen]
Offshore Installation Project Manager
[Nine Andresen]
There she goes, pile number five, going up in the air. Sixteen of these is what’s going to hold Prelude safely in place for the next 25 years in cyclone 5 conditions.
[Video footage]
Nine stands in front of lifting machinery lifting pipes into the air. Scene changes to show pipes and tanker from above.
[Sven Van Bedem]
OIM Utilities
Now, we need to be a bit quiet because actually here we are running live plant. We are currently in the middle of steam blowing and that means that we are running boilers, but what we do here is we generate steam, and with the steam we generate power, electricity and the power that we need to be able to cool down the gas on the LNG side. So, this is the heart, if we don’t have steam, we will not have LNG and we will not have anything else.
[Video footage]
Sven standing in front of other workers at desk in the background. Scene changes to show workers in front of monitors. Scene shows large room with workers at desks and pans back to Sven standing at one side. Workers with lots of papers and charts on desk.
[Text displays]
Riser manufacture, UK.
[Video footage]
Turning machinery. Workers in hard hats working on pipes.
[Unidentified Male]
The weld is now on, everybody’s happy. This will just continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This pipe is going just off the coast of Australia. It’s got quite a way to go.
[Video footage]
Large machinery turning. Workers in hard hats walk in from of large machinery and pipes.
[Text displays]
Insulation beings, Geoje.
[Video footage]
Close up view of tanker from the front. PRELUDE in white is on side of red tanker.
[Huw Jones]
Construction Manager
[Huw Jones]
These guys, material handling team three, so these guys have the job of carrying the insulation from here, up the staircases to the work faces. It’s an essential part of the process, so we’re going to give them a little acknowledgement of what they’re doing.
[Video footage]
Workers wearing orange overalls and yellow hard hats stand in a row. Insulation is being loaded on their backs securely. Workers shows thumbs up.
[Huw Jones]
Okay, J H Kim [?].
[Video footage]
Workers cheer and wave their arms.
[Huw Jones]
We’ve got about 100,000 sq metres, the equivalent of 20 soccer pitches or rugby pitches.
[Video footage]
Workers with heavy loads on their back walk away from camera.
Shot of Prelude vessel out at sea. Smaller vessels around it.
[Shington Widjaja]
Manifold and tie-in systems lead.
[Shington Widjaja]
What’s happening right now is we’re about to install one of the Flowline Jumper Spools, a very important part of the whole system; it transports gases from the production manifolds over to the Plet so can get it to the FLNG.
[Video footage]
Side view of gas platform. Shington Widjaja with white hard hat with Shell logo.
[Shington Widjaja]
All the years of hard work all need to come together now, so it’s really time to be able to do it right.
[Video footage]
Night shot of gas platform lit up. Lights reflecting on the sea surface. Machinery being lowered.
[Text displays]
PRELUDE in white on red background.
[Video footage]
Aerial shot of Prelude from above.
[Didrik Reymert]
Project Director
[Didrik Reymert]
You know when you come here day to day it’s a bit difficult to see, but you know when I take visitors around here, every one of them are totally impressed with what the project team has achieved and I think everybody has delivered very, very well in 2016 and can be very proud of what we have achieved.
[Video footage]
Didrik Reymert with white hard hat with Shell logo on talks to camera. Camera zooms out to show Prelude in its entirety.
[Text displays]
PRELUDE IN 2016 in red on white background.
[Video footage]
Shell logo appears onscreen.
Engineers journey to one of the world’s most remote places to install equipment on the seabed for Prelude, Shell’s floating liquefied natural gas giant.
Prelude Takes Shape – Beneath the Sea Accessibility Transcript
Vision: Prelude FLNG Flare Tower
Music: Sound of Shell.
Voice over:
Last year we watched as Prelude took shape in the bustling shipyards of South Korea.
Vision: Graphic Locator
Music: Sound of Shell.
Voice over: Now far off the coast of Western Australia, another vital aspect of this world first project is beginning to emerge.
Vision: Graphics Subsea
Music: Sound of Shell.
Voice over: Deep beneath the sea, Prelude is connected to a critical network made up of Christmas trees, manifolds and flow lines, all connected to giant anchor piles. The role of this network is to control the flow of gas.
Vision: Shington Widjaja, Subsea Hardware Engineer
Shington Widjaja: ”This is the last manifold before the gas gets into the FLNG. And what this is, is a safety device. If there are any issues with the subsea, the valves can close here and it prevents hydrocarbons from going into the FLNG.”
Vision: Manifolds, Xmas trees, anchor piles ocean
Voice over: With construction of the systems now complete, the job of the subsea team was installation.. In one of the loneliest places on the planet
Vision: Paul Hoban, Subsea Project Manager
Paul Hoban: ”I’ve never worked anywhere as remote as Prelude. There’s hundreds of kilometres in every direction and we’re working 250 metres below the surface. In order to do this job, we needed 250 people and six vessels mobilised from all over the world.”
Vision: Graphic Title, Henderson Western Australia – footage of anchor pile deployment
Voice over: Like here in Henderson, Western Australia, where the giant anchor piles were manufactured then loaded out for deployment.
Vision: Eric Gerbeding, Upstream Projects manager
Eric Gerbeding: ” We’ve got a lot of activities going on. You’ve had the design, the construction and the movement. It’s really critical that it’s planned well and it’s safely executed.”
Vision: Graphic Title, Karratha, Western Australia
Voice over: And in Karratha we’re the four Christmas trees were loaded on board the North Sea Atlantic.
Vision: Nigel Goh, Graduate Discipline Engineer
Shington Widjaja: ”We’re mobilising right now, it’s been a really good controlled lift so far. We’ve got one tree down, the second tree is coming on right now, we’ve got the second tree coming on right now. We’ve got two more to go, but once that’s on, we’re basically good to go for the campaign.”
Vision: Timelapse mobilisation
Voice over: In total 6 mobilisations across three different countries involving 10 vessels were required, before everything was finally in place.
Vision: Kevin Lau, Prelude xmas tree lead
Shington Widjaja: ” Basically after two and half years of design and testing of all the trees onshore, we’re going to go offshore with these four trees and put them on actual well heads now and get them wet.”
Vision: Aerial footage North Sea Atlantic
Voice over: On the 8th February, the construction vessel the North Sea Atlantic set sail.
Her destination, the prelude gas field, a three day journey.
Vision: Paul Hoban, Subsea Project Manager
Paul Hoban: ” Working at sea and especially on the ocean floor, is like working no other place on the planet. Prelude is particularly challenging, because you have very strong currents both on the surface and subsea. And quite often you cannot see anything on the sea bed.”
Vision: Footage Prelude gas field installation begins
Voice over: The moment of truth had arrived for the subsea team. Installation began with an anchor pile.
Vision: Rigger to camera
Rigger: ”Communication is number 1 with us really, because if our comms fail, things can go wrong pretty quickly”
Vision: Footage of anchor pile installation
Voice over: First the fully loaded barge was brought into position. With everything in place, the riggers stepped on board. And the lift could begin. It’s an operation that required everyone working as a single unit. With the barge now clear, the vessel was steered into position. And the anchor pile was carefully lowered into its new home...
Vision: Shington Widjaja, Subsea Hardware Engineer
Shington Widjaja: ” Hopefully this is the last time we see this for the next 25 years. It goes down to the seabed and it stays there.”
Vision: Shington Footage ROV crew
Voice over: In the water, the operation enters a completely different world. The ROV crews become the eyes and arms.
Vision: RV Operator
Voice over: By the time we get to the seabed we will lower this, because of the weight of the pile, it will sink below the seabed, until it is about 8 metres below the sea bed.
Vision: Monitors showing anchor pile subsea
Voice over: While state of the art technology allows team of surveyors track each movement as the anchor pile descends through 250 metres of water. The result is that even in near zero visibility, the giant structure, can be guided into position, with pinpoint accuracy.
Vision: Kevin Lau, Prelude Xmas Tree Lead
Kevin Lau: ” Yes, we’re happy with that it’s good. One down, three to go.”
Vision: Footage mud mats, xmas tree installation
Voice over: Prelude’s manifolds, xmas trees and anchor piles are now in place. The campaign was completed in 21 days, 8 days ahead of schedule without incident.
Vision: Paul Hoban, Subsea Project Manager
Paul Hoban: ” Quite frankly, this is the best campaign I’ve ever been involved in. It was down to personal responsibility. People both in Shell and our contractor Technip really took ownership of their scope. They innovated when they had to and they delivered a safe, efficient and high quality job. That’s everything you can ask for.
Vision: Shots of Prelude equipment on the bottom of the sea
Voice over: And step by step, Shell’s Prelude FLNG project has moved one step closer to becoming a reality.
Sound of shell music fades out.
ENDS.
Prelude in 2015
Title: :Prelude in 2015
Vision.
Construction shots Prelude FLNG Project, SHI Shipyard Geoje.
In a world first project of extraordinary scale, Shell is building a giant floating facility that will liquefy natural gas at sea. And from the shipyards in Korea, to the remote waters of Australia, right across the world, 2015 has been a year of remarkable achievement.
Huw Jones, FLNG construction manager
“We are that close from achieving something quite fantastic.”
Vision.
Aerial footage of last topside module installation, SHI Shipyard Geoje.
In Geoje, Prelude continued to take shape at an astonishing pace. We watched the last of the topside modules installed onto the hull.
Huw Jones, FLNG construction manager
“I can relax now, it’s down safe and sound. No incidents again.”
Vision.
Interior Prelude storage tanks, SHI Shipyard Geoje.
We saw the enormous storage tanks take shape inside the hull.
Jean Chaplain, storage tank lead.
“This cargo tank, which is for LNG, is 39,000 cubic metres. It’s really like a cathedral I think, yes it is.”
Vision.
Engineers climbing Prelude flare tower, SHI Shipyard Geoje.
And we climbed up to the top of Prelude’s 180m long flare tower.
Willem Keij, offshore installation lead.
“The wind’s picking up a bit as you get higher. This is it hey. The flare system is the ultimate safety device. During normal operations, the flare will not be used and it will basically help us during start up and then during normal operations in case of process upsets.”
Vision.
Prelude mooring Chain, Vicinay Cadenas, Spain.
And holding everything to the seabed, was the great chain of Spain.
Dean Fresher, Heavy Lift Specialist.
“The rain in Spain falls mainly on the chain.”
Ewoud van Haaften, senior offshore structures engineer.
“The chain is laid out on the quayside, so in the coming few days we’re going to load these chains onto the ship and then they will be off to Battam in Indonesia.”
Measuring 17 kilometres long, weighing nearly 10 and a half thousand tonnes, it’s the largest chain of its kind ever built.
Vision.
Noble Clyde Boudreaux Drilling Rig, North Western Australia.
In the remote north of Australia, the sun was setting on a very different project, in a very different world.
Shell Supervisor
“Yeh, that’s the well there yes.”
Off camera: “And far does that go down?”
“About 4100 metres vertically.”
Noble Worker
“Yes, go ahead and pull em, pull em. Let’s make sure nothing comes out of them.”
After two years, the wells campaign on the Noble Clyde Boudreaux, was coming to an end.
Kira Evans, Graduate Wells Engineer.
“So we’ve drilled 7 wells, we’re coming up to the end of our campaign. We’ve completed 5 wells and we’ve only got two more to complete and we’re ready for Prelude.”
Gary Wright, Offshore Drilling Supervisor.
“We’ve achieved everything we set out to achieve and in that time we started out as a small groups of separate people and now we are one family.”
Vision.
Deep Energy, North Western Australia.
And working right beside her was the Deep Energy as installation of Prelude’s subsea equipment began.
Shell Supervisor.
“Very, very fine balancing act between the weight of the crane and on the wire.”
Kivan Sartipi. Analysis Engineer.
“We’re essentially building an underwater city without people and the purpose of it is to provide hydrocarbons to the facility safely.”
12 kilometres of flowlines and 8 plets were installed in one of the world’s most remote locations.
Vision.
SupuraKencana, Lumut Malaysia
And they will soon be joined by the production manifolds and risers.
Shington Widjaja, manifold and tie-in systems lead.
“So this is the last stop for the FLNG. It is like a big tap, which separates the hydrocarbons from the FLNG.”
After four years in construction, the subsea team was getting ready for their final test.
Shington Widjaja, manifold and tie-in systems lead.
“I think we’re good, the people are coming off, so we’re ready to go.”
“Well done.”
Vision.
ASL Shipyard, Singapore, Prelude Infield Support Vessels.
And right across the border, Darren Yates was having triplets; again.
Darren Yates, Project Manager Services and Logistics
“This is the second of my three babies as it were.”
Off camera: “And have they been good kids or bad kids?
“So far very well behaved. A little more so than my triplets at home.”
Prelude’s support vessel the RT Kuri Bay, was ready to launch into the world.
Darren Yates, Project Manager Services and Logistics .
“We're building three vessels and there will be two on station, 24/7. She’s going to be bringing the product carriers alongside Prelude.”
Vision.
ASL Shipyard, Singapore, Prelude Infield Support Vessels launching.
“With a Singapore storm, lighting up the night, giant airbags were inflated and she was slowly lowered into the water. As the sun came up, the tides did the rest.”
Darren Yates, Project Manager Services and Logistics
Fantastic, absolutely spectacular to see. Executed to perfection and she’s looking beautiful in the water.
Vision.
Prelude Flare Lift Installation, SHI Shipyard Geoje.
“2015 has been a year of remarkable achievement, for a truly remarkable project. As step by step, piece by piece. Prelude FLNG continues to become a reality.”
Willem Keij, offshore installation lead.
“Here she is. Huh.”
Prelude takes shape
Prelude Takes Shape Accessibility Transcript
Music Sound of Shell
Vision: Sweeping shots of Prelude.
Voice Over.
In a global engineering project of extraordinary scale, destined for gas fields, previously thought too challenging. Shell is building a floating facility that will liquefy natural gas, at sea.
Vision: Prelude under construction.
Voice Over.
Piece by piece, 14 gas plant modules have been built on a quayside, then carefully lifted on to a giant hull. Now the last module is ready for installation and Prelude is taking shape.
Vision: Aerial shots Prelude FLNG.
Super: Didrik Reymert, Prelude FLNG Project Director
“Getting the last module is a real accomplishment by everybody. And from now on progress won’t be that visible, but on the other hand there’s a lot of work to do still.”
Vision: Aerial shots Prelude FLNG.
Super: Huw Jones, FLNG Construction Manager.
“There are 3000 piping connections to make 450 kilometres of cabling to pull. So now the forest of yellow steel is now going to get connected together so it’s one piece.”
Vision: Prelude LNG storage Tank.
Super: Jean Chaplain, Storage Tank Lead.
“This cargo tank which is for LNG is 39,000 cubic metres. It’s difficult to imagine. “
Vision: Interior of liquefaction module.
Super: James Nafraicheur, Pipe Engineering Lead.
“We’re in the liquefaction module at the very heart of the liquefaction process with this refrigerant loop being assembled now. For topsides only, we’ve got 60,000 pairs of flanges to make. Everyone has to be done right.”
Vision: Marine Loading Arms in Drydock.
Super: Cris Moreno, Project Engineering Lead. “We’re at the front of dry dock 1 here, where our 7 MLA’s, marine loading arms, have been for the past few months. As you can see they’re assembled ready to be lifted, ready for FLNG. So hopefully we’ll get to see that in the next few days.”
Vision: Aerial shots Prelude FLNG.
James Nafraicheur.
“When we see the last module coming in on the deck, then now the real work will start.”
Vision: Aerial shots Prelude FLNG.
Didrik Reymert.
“Now if you were climbing Mount Everest I think we are well past base camp,
but there’s still quite a long way to go. And of course as you go it gets narrower and narrower.”
Vision: Aerial shots Prelude FLNG.
Huw Jones.
I tell you what. I’m going to give you another analogy. I’m going to talk about Wales winning the Rugby World Cup. We’re just getting ready for the semi-final.
Wide Shot Prelude FLNG.
SOUND OF SHELL MUSIC FADES OUT
ENDS ON PECTEN LOGO.
Prelude – around the world
Title: Prelude Around the World
Duration: 6:06 minutes
Description:
It’s been a year of remarkable achievement for Shell’s Prelude Project. From the installation of the first processing module in South Korea to the completion of the largest turret ever built in Dubai. Take a look at some of the extraordinary highlights from this world first project to liquefy natural gas at sea.
Prelude: Around the World Film Transcript
Voice Over
In a global engineering project of extraordinary scale, Shell is building a giant floating facility that will liquefy natural gas at sea.
CAPTION
Didrik Reymert, FLNG Project Director
Didrik Reymert
It’s amazing, it’s very big, it’s very impressive, and it’s a fantastic achievement by everybody.
Voice Over
With its half kilometre long hull now afloat in South Korea, 2014 saw huge advances for the project around the world.
TITLE PAGE
Prelude Around the world
CAPTION
Vicinay Cadenas, Bilbao, Spain
Voice Over
In Spain, brute strength and searing heat form the mooring chains that will hold Prelude in position.
CAPTION
Saioa Sebastian, Project Manager, Vicinay Cadenas
Saioa Sebastian:
Every day we manufacture around 50 tonnes. That means 150 links more or less.
Voice Over
17 kilometres of chain, with 24 and a half thousand links will be produced.
CAPTION
FMC Technologies, Sens, France
Voice Over
In France, tests are underway on ground-breaking arms that will transfer the liquefied natural gas directly onto ships.
CAPTION
Cris Moreno CSU Superintendent
Cris Moreno
It is effectively the first time that we’re running the Prelude LNG loading arm at cryogenic conditions. Yeah! It is exciting.
Voice Over
Chilled to minus 162 degrees centigrade, the natural gas will be transported as a cryogenic liquid.
Cris Moreno
Good result! Very happy.
Voice Over
The first of many safety tests succeeds.
CAPTION
FMC Technologies, Johor, Xmas Tree Pressure Test
Voice Over
In Malaysia, subsea equipment that will control the gas-flow from Prelude’s 7 wells is being checked for leaks.
CAPTION:
Kevin Lau, Subsea Engineer
Kevin Lau
We are pressuring up to 10,000 psi, which is about 300 times the pressure of your car tyres. It’s a bit like watching paint dry, but watching it dry very nervously!
Because it’s so big, and it’s the final test, yes they still get nervous, never mind how many times you do it.
Voice Over
The huge pressure holds, proving the kit is fit for use.
CAPTION
Samsung Heavy Industries, Geoje Island, South Korea
Voice Over
In South Korea, the installation of a pipe network 450 kilometres long is well underway.
CAPTION
James Nafraicheur, Pipe Engineering Lead
James Nafraicheur:
It looks like a human body full of arteries and veins, with blood flowing in-between.
Voice Over
There are more than 450,000 piping components to connect. Across the shipyard, one of the vast storage tanks, is about to receive a “pump tower”. This will take its liquefied gas up to deck for offloading.
CAPTION
Jean Chaplain, Storage Tank Lead
Jean Chaplain:
Last time it was windy and it was very tricky.
Voice Over
The 50 tonne structure is safely coaxed through the narrow opening.
Jean Chaplain:
OK it’s coming down
CAPTION:
DryDocks World, Dubai, Turret Load-Out
Voice Over
In Dubai, part of the 30 story “turret”, which allows Prelude to “weathervane”, is ready to set sail for South Korea.
CAPTION
Nicholas Kauffmann, FLNG Project Manager
Nicholas Kauffmann:
Every day when I wake up and I see components this size, you know I’m struck with awe!
Voice Over
In Australia, construction finishes on the onshore supply base. Everything required to support Prelude’s remote location 200km’s from shore, will be shipped from here.
CAPTION:
Andrew Smith, Country Chair Australia
Andrew Smith:
The warehouse is completely empty now, but within a week things will start coming in. Ahh, it’s going to be terrific to see.
CAPTION:
Holloway Houston, USA, Mooring Wire Strain Test
Voice Over
In Texas, Prelude’s mooring cable, is strength tested to the point of destruction.
CAPTION
Ewoud Van Haaften, Offshore Structures Engineer
Ewoud Van Haaften:
This wire rope, it is the biggest mooring wire rope that has ever been break load tested. So now we’re over 2500 tonnes.
Voice Over
It passes the required strength, and now it’s pushed to the limit.
Ewoud Van Haaften
More wires going… Still in one piece.
Yah! There we go! Incredible, wow. What a huge bang!
Voice Over
The sample out-performs strength requirements
CAPTION
Samsung Heavy Industries, Geoje, South Korea
Voice Over
In Korea, the first of the huge gas processing modules is being lifted onto the hull.
CAPTION
Huw Jones, Construction Manager
Voice Over
The 4,800 tonne module is floated to its new home.
CAPTION:
Dean Fresher, Heavy Lift & Transportation Lead
Dean Fresher:
At this stage, we’re about 100mil off, they’ll do the last adjustment, so when we do touchdown, that’s it, we won’t be coming up, and this module will be staying here for the next 25 years or more.
Dean Fresher:
Well done Mr Lee! 100%! 100%!
Voice Over
Piece by piece, step by step, across 4 continents and involving thousands of people, the vision of Prelude continues to become a reality.
Huw Jones:
I’m delighted, absolutely delighted! Couldn’t have asked for better really.
END CARD
DSP Production for
Shell.tv
Copyright logo / year
Prelude – built to last
Title: Prelude - built to last - from YouTube
Duration: 7:38 minutes
Description:
From paint that will last 25 years at sea to five-star cabins in one of the most remote locations on the planet, Shell’s Prelude FLNG team are building one of the largest floating structures ever and taking the energy industry to a whole new level of innovation.
Prelude – built to last – from YouTube Transcript
[Background music plays]
Dramatic intro music
[Video footage]
Sped-up footage of sections of plant installation being lowered into place by crane.
[Voiceover]
‘'Take one gas plant…
[Video footage]
A man on scaffolding is spraypainting pipes on the new plant installation bright yellow.
[Voiceover]
‘'...millions of litres of paint...’’
[Video footage]
A man in a hardhat and overalls draws a curtain across an interior cupboard.
[Voiceover]
‘'...some careful interior design...’’
[Voiceover]
‘'...and ensure it all lasts for decades.’’
[Video footage]
Two technicians inspect a girder in the plant. One of the technicians is using a handheld device to take a metered reading.
Sparks fly from a welding operation.
A man crosses the floor of the vast interior of the gas plant.
A huge machine, constructed of massive girders, moves along inside the plant.
[Voiceover]
‘'It's revolutionary...’’
[Video footage]
Sparks fly as a man welds a huge curved pipe.
Construction equipment is moved along above ground level at a dockside, using an enormous movable gantry.
[Voiceover]
‘'...pushing the boundaries of innovation.’’
[Video footage]
Sped-up footage of a harbour scene, machinery and vessels coming and going.
Partially constructed plant.
Sped-up night-time footage of a drydock filling with water. As the day breaks, the water level rises to capacity.
[Voiceover]
‘'Destined for fields previously thought too challenging…’'
[Animated sequence]
Digital sound effect. Camera zooms in from out-of-space to the northern coast of Australia.
[Text displays]
FLNG location Prelude Gas
Broome
Northern Australia
[Voiceover]
‘'…Shell is shrinking a liquefied natural gas plant by four times its normal size, and squeezing it onto a floating hull.’’
[Video footage]
Aerial footage of a vast gas plant.
Two workers in protective gear.
Dramatically sped-up footage of two days’ worth of activity on the gas plant construction.
Inside the gas plant, a system with a massive central pipe is moved in through a large door.
Two workers stand inside a large circular chamber or room. A truck is parked in the middle of the room. The camera pans up from the workers to an opening several storeys above in the circular chamber.
A worker in protective gear motions directions to someone off-camera.
Sped-up footage: the vessel in dry dock is being pushed or accompanied out of the dock by two relatively small tugboats.
[Voiceover]
‘'At half a kilometre long, Prelude is the one of the largest structures man has ever sent to sea.’’
[Video footage]
Sped-up footage from the water’s surface as Prelude is floated out to sea.
View from a further-away elevated position of Prelude being guided out of drydock and into the harbour by seven or eight tugboats positioned at various points around the vast vessel.
[Music ends]
[Animated sequence]
The words Built to Last swoosh into position under the name Prelude on the vessels hull.
[Text displays]
Samsung heavy industries
Geoje Island, South Korea
[Background music plays]
Tinkling, uplifting music plays.
[Video footage]
Busy harbour scene at Geoje Island, South Korea, as seen from an elevated position, looking down over treetops.
Prelude docked. The huge gantry stands over the prow.
[Voiceover]
‘'Prelude's gas plant is being built in a jigsaw of huge pieces or modules on the quayside.’’
[Video footage]
Outdoor view of construction underway on the gas plant.
Camera pans down from upper left to lower right, showing construction equipment in various stages of assembly on the quayside.
Two men in protective gear discuss something on a piece of paper one of them is holding.
Outdoors: Huw Jones standing several storeys up on scaffolding or partially constructed part of the gas plant.
[Voiceover]
‘'It's Huw Jones' job to ensure that its construction runs smoothly.’’
[Video footage]
Outdoors: two men in protective gear climb a ladder to a platform.
The men make their way across the platform.
View from below as the men make their way up yet another ladder.
View from a little distance away of the gas plant under construction.
The two men approach the camera as they ascend a ladder.
Camera position switches to behind the two men as they reach the platform.
The two men examine massive pipes and tubing on the platform.
[Construction Manager]
[Huw Jones]
‘'It looks a little bit like a forest of yellow steel right now, but we will bring it all together and form 14 modules.’’
[Video footage]
The sound of a drill can be heard. Two men standing on scaffolding work on a large vat-like structure.
Huw Jones standing outdoors, addressing the cameraperson/interviewer, the construction site behind him.
The camera looks straight up the side of the construction showing girders and pipes and tubes crisscrossing one another.
Two workers walk along the topmost platform of the construction site.
One of the men raises his hand to shield his eyes from the glare as he stares out ahead of him.
View from behind the two men as they survey the scene below and in front of them. Prelude lies in dock a short distance away.
[Huw Jones]
‘'We'll join those 14 modules to themselves and to the hull to make a facility that is enormous, basically.’’
[Video footage]
Huw Jones standing outdoors, addressing the cameraperson/interviewer, the construction site behind him.
View past a man’s shoulder and arm, the construction site in the distance.
View of the construction site.
Huw Jones standing outdoors, addressing the cameraperson/interviewer, the construction site behind him. He grins as he finishes talking.
The massive gantry, positioned above the Prelude, and what appears to be a floating platform in front of the Prelude, move in a synchronized fashion as the gantry begins to swing slowly diagonally to the Prelude. A high-pitched whining noise can be heard.
Side view of the Prelude, cranes in the background.
[Voiceover]
‘'A trip to Prelude's main deck already requires an elevator, but once complete the floating gas plant will be 30 storeys high.’’
[Video footage]
A crowded elevator full of men in protective gear.
View of the side of the Prelude as seen through the elevator door as it ascends the side of the vessel.
Another shot of the inside of the crowded elevator.
View of the dockside as seen through the elevator door as it ascends the side of the vessel.
View from an elevated platform alongside the Prelude. The camera is looking down its vast length.
The camera follows two men as they walk along elevated platform.
One of the men walks to the railing.
The camera looks down over the railing at the ground far below.
[Huw Jones]
‘'I'm going to put my forest of modules on top and it will look absolutely fantastic.’’
[Video footage]
View across the construction site.
View across the construction site, the Prelude docked in the background.
Huw Jones standing outdoors, addressing the cameraperson/interviewer, the construction site behind him. He grins as he finishes talking.
[Animated sequence]
The camera draws rapidly back from a computer-generated model of the completed Prelude on a glassy ocean.
[Voiceover]
‘'Most ocean-going vessels return to dry dock for maintenance every 5 years. But Prelude is designed not to return for 25! To survive, every inch must be utterly protected.’’
[Video footage]
Busy harbour scene at Geoje Island, South Korea, as seen from an elevated position, looking down over treetops.
Busy dockside, men on foot, bike or scooter pass by.
View of the busy dockside from the front. Workers on motorbikes, scooters and bikes are coming and going.
Sped-up footage of harbour activity.
View of Prelude as seen in a scooter side-view mirror.
Sped-up footage looking across the bustling dockside to Prelude in dock.
Men on bicycles and scooters make their way along the dockside. The massive Prelude hull looms in the background.
The camera looks up at Prelude’s hull. The massive gantry stands over the Prelude.
A forklift drives along the floor of a massive hangar or factory.
[Voiceover]
‘'It's Steve Bell's job to make sure Prelude's 260,000 tonnes of steel are painted to perfection.’’
[Video footage]
Steve Bell, wearing protective gear, watches the activities within the factory.
Men on scaffolding painting a massive girder yellow.
Factory floor; a man in a gas-mask approaches an unidentified piece of construction.
Steve Bell climbs a ladder to the scaffold level above.
Close-up of a handheld meter he uses to take a measurement from a girder.
Side shot of Mr Bell, accompanied by a female colleague, taking measurements from the girder.
A man in protective gear and gas-mask holding a compressor spray-can.
[Lead Coating Inspector]
[Steve Bell]
‘'Painting is a lot more technical than what people actually think.’’
[Video footage]
Mr Bell addresses the camera.
A man in heavy protective gear and gas-mask sprays the inside of a girder yellow.
[Steve Bell]
‘'Different paints react at different temperatures, and it is a very technical discipline.’’
[Video footage]
Close-up of a handwritten weather chart recording conditions for different time intervals for the day.
Mr Bell addresses the camera.
Mr Bell addresses a small group of workers on the factory floor.
Close-up of a man donning a face-mask over his hardhat.
[Voiceover]
‘'Steve and his team are here to inspect the paint job on a new piece of the gas plant.’’
[Video footage]
Steve and the other workers adjust their gas-masks.
Steve and a colleague inspect paintwork on the structure above them.
A man climbs a ladder to the scaffolding above.
[Steve Bell]
‘'Any defect in the paint would in the long-term bring an early breakdown of the coating system, which would cause an early failure of the steelwork.’’
[Video footage]
A man on hands on knees does a close inspection of the painted floor.
A man inspects a painted pipe closely with a torch.
Mr Bell addresses the camera.
A man inspects painted girders closely with a torch.
Mr Bell and a colleague move in for a closer inspection of a painted pillar.
Close-up of the pillar surface.
[Steve Bell]
‘'It has to be perfect.’’
[Voiceover]
‘'But on this occasion Steve's team spots some imperfections.’’
[Video footage]
Mr Bell walking along a long, dim area, examining the structures overhead.
A man inspects painted girders closely with a torch.
Mr Bell, surrounded by his colleagues, makes notes in chalk on the factory floor.
Profile view of Mr Bell. The camera pans right to show the colleague who is talking to him.
Mr Bell addresses the camera.
[Steve Bell]
‘'There's a few areas where the final coat was missing, and a few areas where it was a little bit high. That's the main purpose of these inspections, is to find these items and basically work with the shipyard to rectify the items as quickly as possible.’’
[Video footage]
The painting team gathered around Mr Bell as he makes notes in chalk on the factory floor.
Mr Bell addresses the camera.
Close-up of the chalk notes on the floor.
A painter uses a roller to apply paint to a previously painted girder.
Painting equipment on the factory floor.
View across the harbour of the construction site.
Camera pans right from one side of the harbour to the construction site.
A large white building on the dock. Scaffolding and platforms are visible in the foreground.
[Voiceover]
‘'Across the shipyard, naval architect Brian Casey faces an entirely different challenge: to design living quarters that far exceed expectations.’’
[Video footage]
Office scene.
Brian Casey seated in a boardroom with two colleagues. They have lots of paperwork spread out in front of them.
[Naval Architect]
[Brian Casey]
‘'I've designed quite a few accommodations on vessels and they're all fairly basic, so we thought, 'Well, with Prelude let's try and do something that's good.'’'
[Video footage]
Mr Casey addresses the camera.
An empty presentation room, with rows of seats and presentation equipment at the front.
An empty gymnasium.
Mr Casey addresses the camera.
[Brian Casey]
‘'The whole living quarters have got glazed panel walls, huge open spaces, quiet lounges. It's like a Hilton hotel. I wouldn't mind staying there for a few weeks.’’
[Video footage]
Empty lounge area.
Golf simulation area, with putting area and massive screen.
Mr Casey addresses the camera.
[Animated sequence]
The camera pans around a computer-generated model of the completed Prelude floating on a glassy ocean.
[Voiceover]
‘'Prelude will have around 120 people on board, each with their own cabin.’’
[Video footage]
Empty private cabin.
[Voiceover]
‘'But at busy times, additional people will have to share, requiring sofa beds.’’
[Animated sequence]
A helicopter lands on the Prelude’s deck.
[Video footage]
An empty private cabin.
Close-up of a printout of the cabin design.
Mr Casey and colleague in the boardroom.
Mr Casey addresses his colleagues.
[Brian Casey]
‘'We need to have everything the same, so if someone's coming in, it's a two-man cabin; his sleeping arrangements have to be the same.’’
[Video footage]
Close-up of Mr Casey’s colleague as he pores over the paperwork in front of him.
[Voiceover]
‘'But making the sofa bed as wide as the main bed means a design compromise for Brian.’’
[Video footage]
Mr Casey and his colleagues in the boardroom.
Mr Casey addresses the camera and his colleagues.
[Brian Casey]
‘'I'd rather have kept the slightly narrower mattress by 30mm, just over an inch, but it would cause major problems offshore. You know, people would say, 'Your bed's wider than mine' - even if it's only an inch.’’
[Video footage]
Close-up of the printout of the cabin.
Mr Casey addresses the camera.
Close-up of the printout of the cabin.
[Colleague]
‘'But the design is very nice.’’
[Brian Casey]
‘'It is, yes. We've made the best of it. It's just that I had it perfect initially.’’
[Video footage]
Mr Casey and colleagues in the boardroom seen through a large glass wall.
[Voiceover]
‘'Brian will never live on Prelude, so, to inspect the very first completed cabin, he's joined by someone who will... production coordinator, Frank Groen.’’
[Video footage]
View of the Prelude from dockside.
Camera pans up from the top of the construction site to look out across the length of the site.
View of a cranes and buildings on a distant platform.
Frank Groen walks toward camera as he ascends a gangplank.
[Production Coordinator]
[Frank Groen]
[Huw Jones]
‘'We're going up to the 59th floor.’’
[Video footage]
Mr Groen and colleagues inside a lift.
View from dockside immediately alongside the vast side of the Prelude.
[Voiceover]
‘'The elevator only reaches the main deck. Perched on the stern, the living quarters is another nine storeys high.’’
[Video footage]
The Prelude, tugboats anchored alongside. The living quarters’ superstructure is visible at the stern.
View out across the harbour from the Prelude’s deck.
Mr Groen and a colleague make their way along the cluttered deck.
Close-up of a plastic-covered deck layout and a sign reading: D Deck, with some description of the rooms on that deck.
Mr Groen and his colleague approach the camera as they ascend a flight of steps.
[Voiceover]
‘'The finished cabin is right at the summit. Brian and Frank have to hike.’’
[Video footage]
Close-up of another deck layout.
Frank and Brian ascending another flight of steps.
Close-up of feet as they ascend steps.
Brian disappears through an open door on the deck.
Close-up of feet moving along a very narrow passage.
The camera moves along a corridor filled with panels of instrumentation.
The camera follows Frank and Brian as they make their way along the corridor.
The camera has turned upwards to show the conduits and pipes running the length of the corridor ceiling.
View from the front of Frank and Brian walking along the corridor.
[Frank Groen]
‘'We've waited a long time for this.’’
[Video footage]
Frank and Brian enter a door in the side of the corridor.
[Frank Groen]
‘'It's probably one of the biggest cabins that I've seen for a facility, certainly an offshore facility, so, yes, it's pretty impressive.’’
[Video footage]
Frank and Brian inside an unfurnished cabin.
[Brian Casey]
‘'Additional drawers, which are quite good. And all these cupboards are all soft closing, so, yes…’'
[Video footage]
Brian pulls out drawers under a bed. He then opens and closes a cabinet at eye-level.
[Brian Casey]
‘'We also have hidden curtains. A bit of privacy is always important, it's good.’’
[Video footage]
Brian draws a curtain from a panel against the wall and draws it across the bed.
[Brian Casey]
‘'More shelves...more shelving space.’’
[Video footage]
Brian opens a narrow cupboard to reveal shelves and hanging space.
[Frank Groen]
‘'Originally you had tie racks in there, Brian?’’
[Brian Casey]
‘'That's right, yes, a tie rack. We got rid of that. Now we go into the bathroom...’’
[Video footage]
Brian enters the very small bathroom cubicle.
[Brian Casey]
‘'...this was moved a few times.’’
[Video footage]
Brian motions across the top of the bathroom cubicle.
[Frank Groen]
‘'Do you remember the discussion on that, Brian?’’
[Brian Casey]
‘'Yes, it was a major item, the clothesline.’’
[Frank Groen]
‘'Yes.’’
[Brian Casey]
‘'That got moved around about three or four different times.’’
[Video footage]
Brian twangs the overhead clothesline.
[Brian Casey]
‘'It's attention to detail that makes life a lot better offshore, yes.’’
[Voiceover]
‘'Frank's impressed so far, but will the sofa bed be up to scratch?’’
[Video footage]
Frank and Brian pull out the sofa bed to reveal a hidden mattress.
[Frank Groen]
‘'Let’s try it. That's quite a good setup.’’
[Brian Casey]
‘'Yes.’’
[Video footage]
Brian pushes his fists into the mattress to test its firmness.
[Brian Casey]
‘'As you can see, it looks very, very close or very similar to the fixed bed when it's down, and that was the main design criteria we had. And they're both the same widths, yes. Do you want to try this one? You'll be sleeping on it, Frank.’’
[Video footage]
Close-up of the sofa bed. Frank lowers himself onto it.
[Frank Groen]
‘'Yes. And the full length's there too, which is good, because quite often you can't get that extra length.’’
[Video footage]
Frank gets off the bed.
[Frank Groen]
‘'It's very good. These are great. Obviously, Australians are usually taller as well - that was one of the key points of…’'
[Brian Casey]
‘'I don’t have a problem!’’
[Video footage]
The two men laugh.
View of Brian and Frank exiting the passage into daylight.
The construction site and bustling dockside.
Aerial view of vehicles coming and going on the bustling dockside.
[Voiceover]
‘'Although there's a lot yet to achieve, the Prelude team is well on its way to building a world-class, technically innovative facility that will stand the test of time.’’
[Video footage]
A man and woman in protective gear walking outside the construction plant.
A man in protective gear walks quickly along a platform surrounding a vast vertical tunnel.
A man in a hanging scaffold is being lowered into the tunnel.
A man in the construction site securing loose, hanging cables or wires.
Men at work in the construction site.
A close-up of a brightly-coloured sign reading: Danger.
Men in protective gear direct a very wide construction vehicle out of the factory.
A man welding.
The camera follows a woman in protective gear as she rounds a pile of construction equipment in the factory.
A man welding something on the floor.
[Huw Jones]
‘'If you come back here in three months' time there's going to be a huge change here... and taller.
[Video footage]
Frank Groen and a colleague approach the camera as they descend a flight of steps outdoors.
View across the harbour of the construction modules being assembled.
A man in protective gear at work on the construction site.
A man on scaffolding hoists a piece of equipment up to him.
Dockside view of the side of the Prelude. The camera follows the progress of a man walking along next to the vessel.
[Huw Jones]
‘'Fantastic, I've got goose pimples talking about it!’’
[Video footage]
Huw addressing the camera. He grins broadly as he finishes talking.
Busy harbour scene at Geoje Island, South Korea, as seen from an elevated position, looking down over treetops.
Final shot of the distant Prelude lying in the harbour.
[Music ends]
[Animated sequence]
Rushing noise. A spiral of yellow, turquoise, blue and purple splits and morphs so that they form the logo for dsp.
[Text displays]
Dsp, an Endemol company.
[Graphic displays]
An eye encircled by a horizontal oval.
[Text displays]
For Shell.TV
[Text displays]
Copyright, Shell International 2014
Arms of innovation
Title: Arms of Innovation
Duration: 6:44 minutes
Description:
Testing of newly designed marine loading arm for Shell LNG production
Arms of Innovation Transcript
[Background music plays]
Energetic music with industrial noises.
[Narration]
A chunk of world first technology, a tanker of liquid nitrogen, and a team of nervous engineers.
[Video footage]
Machinery in motion, close up.
Machinery in motion, long shot.
Tanker of liquid nitrogen.
Group of hard-hatted workers in discussion.
[Narration]
With a prestigious project, and years of work behind them, the test they’re about to do needs to succeed.
[Video footage]
Engineers gather around waiting for a machinery test.
Worker points upward.
Close up of machinery in motion with steam being emitted.
Longer shot of machinery with platform being lowered.
Shot of machine being tested and part of it being pulled away from body of machinery.
Shower of sparks.
Workers at work on shipyard factory floor.
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting music.
[Narration]
It’s revolutionary, pushing the boundaries of innovation.
[Video footage]
Interior of facory. Workers crossing an open interior. Various shots of factory activity. Large piece of machinery being moved across factory floor. Close up of worker working on large pipe. Crane lifting some heavy machinery. Exterior shot of shipyard showing cranes in foreground. Interior shot shows water flowing along channels. The water level rises. Night shot morphs into daytime scene
[Narration]
Destined for fields previously thought too challenging, a gas plant is being shrunk to a quarter size, and carefully squeezed onto a floating hull.
[Animated sequence]
Zoom in on satellite photograph of section of Western Australian coast showing Broome and the
location of Prelude gas field.
[Video footage]
Overhead of gas plant
Two workers in breathing apparatus.
Rapid motion works in outdoor shipyard. Two men in protective headgear.
Inside the Prelude project vessel looking up at the sky.
A worker in protective headgear indicates and points at something.
Prelude, Freemantle is
Worker with welding equipment.
[Narration]
At half a kilometre long, Prelude is one of the largest structures that man has ever sent to sea.
[Video footage]
The Prelude project vessel leaves the slip and is led onto the sea, fast motion. Prelude, Freemantle is written on back.
[Text displays]
Prelude
Arms of Innovation
[Video footage]
Long shot, long pan across Korean shipyard.
[Text displays]
Samsung Heavy Industries
Geoje Island, South Korea
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting music.
[Narration]
Prelude is designed to cool gas to a chilling minus 162 degrees Celsius. This shrinks it, and turns it into liquefied natural gas, or LNG.
[Video footage]
Prelude manoeuvred into position in fast motion
Korean shipyard workers at work
[Narration]
The challenge is in transferring this volatile liquid from Prelude onto a carrier while both bob up and down on the surface of the ocean.
[Animated sequence]
Simulation of Prelude and carrier moving into position
[Video footage]
Scale model of Prelude and carrier in a lab tank
Interview with Cris Moreno
[Title]
Project Engineering Lead
[Cris Moreno]
The carrier and the facility are actually moored together, and during this offloading process, they will be moving, and probably moving in different directions. Ideally, we would actually offload it around every five or six days, and we’ve had to make sure that we can do this safely.
[Background music plays]
Low volume apprehensive music.
[Video footage]
Scale model of Prelude and carrier in a lab tank.
Stock footage of airline refuelling in mid-air.
[Narration]
Technology for transferring fuel between planes has been in use since World War Two, but technology that can speedily transfer vast quantities of liquid gas between vessels at sea has had to be perfected.
[Video footage]
Stock footage of airline refuelling in mid-air
[Narration]
That next level of innovation is being created in France.
[Background music plays]
Pastoral orchestral music
[Video footage]
Establishment shots of Sens, France
[Text display]
FMC Technologies
Sens, France
[Narration]
For the Prelude project to be viable, this marine loading arm has to work. Cris Marino is here to test it for the first time.
[Video footage]
French workers at work outdoors on machinery.
Side view of Cris driving through the countryside. Shot of marine loading arm when Cris arrives at destination.
[Cris Moreno]
There it is, that’s the first marine loading arm. That is just incredible. That is absolutely – that’s sublime. That’s amazing.
[Video footage]
Long shot of marine loading arm. Cris looking up at marine loading arm.
Cris in car talking
[Narration]
Cris’s excitement is understandable, when you consider it’s taken 50,000 man hours to get to this stage.
[Video footage]
French workers wearing protective clothing and headgear at work outdoors on machinery.
[Cris Moreno]
The reason why I almost love these loading arms is they were first of a kind.
[Video footage]
Group of hard-hatted workers walking in a group and viewing the motion of machinery. Men point at the loading arm.
[Cris Moreno]
You can imagine grabbing something that no one has ever played with. And then that gives you a sense of enjoyment, fulfillment, and it’s also scary at the same time. You know, you don’t really want to take something brand new and break it.
[Video footage]
Long shot of loading arm.
[Narration]
This enormous arm should be able to swivel, rotate, and follow the motion of an LNG carrier for the 15 hours it’ll take to offload.
[Video footage]
Hard-hatted workers viewing the motion of machinery. Various close-ups of parts of the loading arm.
[Cris Moreno]
It’s a brand new arm, so it’s important that we see that the system works spot on, first time.
[Background music plays]
Slow ballet-like music
[Video footage]
Machinery in motion. Men standing in group testing the equipment and watching.
[Narration]
A dynamic test bench mimics the movement of the carrier. The arm should automatically pull itself into place. The team watches anxiously.
[Video footage]
Machinery in motion. The group of workers in protective clothing look on as the machinery is tested.
[Narration]
It’s a textbook connection.
[Cris Moreno]
It’s just incredible, huh? The dynamics.
[Background music plays]
Apprehensive music
[Video footage]
Machinery in motion. Cris talks to a fellow worker.
[Narration]
But then, something unexpected occurs.
[Loud bang]
[Video footage]
Machinery stops.
[Cris Moreno]
That wasn’t meant to happen.
[Video footage]
Hard-hatted workers looking up at the machinery
[Narration]
The loading arm has retracted too far, and collided with itself. The engineers check for damage.
[Video footage]
The loading arm is lowered. Engineers check for damage
[Cris Moreno]
The good news is that none of the equipment was damaged during the test.
[Video footage]
Cris walks toward the camera. Workers in protective clothing work on the loading arm.
[Narration]
Despite the hiccup, the test is a resounding success, and with a plan in place to make sure it can’t happen again, they move on to the ultimate test.
[Background music plays]
Bright, heroic music
[Video footage]
French workers in protective clothing at work outdoors on machinery
[Narration]
Prelude’s liquefied natural gas will be stored in colossal tanks deep inside the hull at minus 162 degrees Celsius.
[Video footage]
Steam rises from pipes filled with liquid nitrogen. Long shot looking up at the hull.
View of Prelude’s gas tanks under construction. Two workers discussing something and looking up.
[Narration]
The team in France needs to prove the arm can perform in the extreme cold.
[Video footage]
Steam rises from pipes filled with liquid nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen fed from tanker into the machinery
[Cris Moreno]
It is effectively the first time where we’re running the Prelude LNG loading arm at cryogenic conditions. Yes, it is exciting.
[Video footage]
Cris smiles.
[Narration]
They fill the arm with liquid nitrogen. It’s cold, but not flammable, like liquefied natural gas.
[Video footage]
Steam rises from pipes filled with liquid nitrogen.
Liquid nitrogen fed from tanker into the machinery.
[Cris Moreno]
Once we achieve the low temperatures that we need, we will complete what we refer to as an emergency disconnection. And that’s critical for ensuring the facility remains safe in case of emergency.
[Video footage]
Various close-up shots of parts of the loading arm.
[Narration]
The test bench will simulate extreme sea conditions. Once the movement exceeds safe limits, valves inside the arm should close, allowing it to break away from the carrier.
[Video footage]
Hard-hatted workers looking up at the machinery.
Steam rises from pipes filled with liquid nitrogen.
[Narration]
In this simulated emergency, only the liquid between the two valves should escape.
[Video footage]
Machinery in motion.
[Cris Moreno]
If the valves didn’t function, we would see continuous liquid nitrogen being spilt into the ground. So there is a very, very strong requirement here to demonstrate that we do not have that occurrence.
[Video footage]
Cris talking in front of machinery.
Machinery in motion.
Machinery separates and arm withdraws.
Watching engineers give thumbs up.
[Cris Moreno]
Good result. Very happy.
[Video footage]
Cris laughing and walking off camera.
[Video footage]
Shots of different parts of machinery.
[Background music plays]
Diligent working music
[Narration]
The marine loading arm has functioned perfectly. It will now be dismantled and shipped to Korea. Once six more are built and tested, Prelude will be able to offload liquid cargo at sea.
[Animated sequence]
Shipyard construction in motion
Rotating view around Prelude on the ocean
[Text displays]
dsp
an endemol company
for Shell.tv
© Shell International 2014
Prelude’s maiden voyage
Title: Prelude's maiden voyage
Duration: 7.21 minutes
[Description]
After 14 months of construction, the Shell Prelude FLNG project continues to create history. Measuring nearly half a kilometre in length and weighing over 200,000 tonnes, the facility's enormous hull is ready to take to the water for the first time. Join the team in Goeje, South Korea, as it prepares to launch the largest hull ever sent to sea.
Voice over
Far off the coast of Western Australia, deep beneath the ocean, lies a remote reserve of natural gas. But reaching it has been considered too challenging. Until now.
So Shell has embarked on what it calls the Prelude project. Instead of piping gas to land, Shell will liquefy natural gas at sea.
And here at the Samsung shipyard in South Korea, the vision is becoming a reality.
CAPTION
October 2012
Voice Over
As the idea turned to steel.
Didrik Reymert:
“The journey begins, because we're going to build the floating LNG facility.”
CAPTION
March 2013
Voice over
The steel turned to blocks....
Huw Jones:
“Think of it as lego. Lots of these blocks being put together. It's huge.”
Voice over
And the blocks turned into the hull..
Willie Gray:
The success of this project is in our hands at the end of the day.
Voice over
Now the team is preparing for its greatest test yet.
It's time to launch the biggest hull ever sent to sea.
CAPTION
November 30, 2013
Voice Over
Willie Gray is getting ready to make history.
In less than 24 hours his team will float a hull measuring, nearly half a kilometer long and weighing more than 200,000 tonnes.
It's a moment that's been years in the planning. But they will have just two hours to make it happen.
CAPTION
Willie Gray, Substructure Manager
Willie Gray:
So we have from about 7 am to 8:45, is the tidal window. So it's quite short actually. And if we don't achieve it then the next one is in the evening and that's in total darkness and we have to wait until the following morning again. So everything is geared up to meet that key timing on Saturday morning.
Voice Over
During that time, the hull will be navigated across the harbour, where the next stage of construction awaits.
Willie Gray:
So it's a great day and of course for any Scotsman, it's St Andrews day, so we absolutely have to meet that target.
Voice Over
And getting to this target has been a remarkable achievement. In May this dry dock was nearly empty. Less than 8 months later sits the largest hull ever built.
Huw Jones:
It's a fantastic sight, it really is.
Voice Over
For Huw Jones it means the task of fitting the liquefaction modules can now begin. Each year these modules will produce enough natural gas to meet the needs of a city larger than Hong Kong.
CAPTION
Huw Jones, Construction Manager
Huw Jones:
There are 14 different modules all doing different things. Each module weighs on average about 5, 5 and a half thousand tones. So right here in front of you today, there's about a quarter of it sitting on this quayside.
Voice Over
Inside the dry dock, the engineers are making one last inspection. Because once launched it will be 25 years before Prelude will return.
Man speaks:
Here we are standing in the moonpool area. This is where we introduce the gas and liquids so they can be processed on the topsides.
Voice Over
Tomorrow morning the structure must be floated off these support blocks, then navigated safely out of the dry dock. There is no margin for error.
Man speaks:
This draft, 80 centimetres. It’s not very much, its tight, but we're in good hands.
Laughs.
No one's nervous, we're in good hands. SHI are experts at this. This is what they do.
Voice Over
As temperatures dip to zero, the launch team gets ready to start. At 9:15 right on schedule the vast valves to the dry dock open. And Willie Gray is watching closely.
Willie Gray:
Well it's now 20 to 11 at night and we commenced filling the dock actually at 915. There are 60 persons on board who have been positioned in strategic locations. It's a precautionary measure.
We're expecting to commence floating sometime around 1 to 1:30 tomorrow morning. And at 7 o'clock, when it becomes first light, we should commence to tow out from the dock.
Voice Over
In the early hours of the morning Prelude starts to float.
By day break, the hull is standing tall.
Willie Gray:
Morning Mr An, how are you? No wind?
Voice Over
Conditions for launch are near perfect.
Willie Gray
The weather's just above freezing. It's just getting to first light. It's going to be a brilliant day and everybody is looking forward to the big event.
Voice Over
The tug boats jostle into position, 9 are needed for the short journey across the harbour..
And with that sound Prelude, slips out of the dry dock.
[Music begins]
CAPTION
Didrik Reymert, FLNG Project Director
Didrik Reymert:
It's amazing, it's very big it's very impressive and it's a fantastic achievement for everybody
Engineers:
It's really fantastic, amazing, unbelievable. We made it.
Yeah, we are very proud of it. And we can say it in French.... Fantastique.
Voice Over
It's a special moment for the Prelude team and there to witness is a crowd of nearly 500 people.
CAPTION
Nicholas Kauffmann, FLNG Project Manager
Nicholas Kauffmann:
We've got all the families of Shell and of Technip here as well. They've all come to Korea, you know it's a big step for them to be working here too. And for them to be part of this great event is absolutely fantastic, it's great to have them.
Huw Jones:
Can you forget this? Will you forget this? It's absolutely fantastic, unbelievable. By the time we put our modules on, it's going to be higher than that accommodation block the whole length.
They're clear.
Voice Over
After 18 million hours of design and development. Including 14 months in construction. Prelude slides gracefully across the water.
For Willie Gray there's time for a snap shot for the family album.
And a pat on the back from the boss.
Didrik Reymert:
Well done mate I'm really proud of you. Today they can celebrate.
Voice Over
But tomorrow it's back to work. Because once moored a whole new phase of the project is about to begin.
The Shell Prelude FLNG project takes a giant step forward
Title: The Shell Prelude FLNG project takes a giant step forward - from YouTube
Duration: 7:58 minutes
Description:
Shell’s Prelude project at Samsung Shipyard in South Korea. A giant step forward is about to be takne.
The Shell Prelude FLNG project takes a giant step forward - from YouTube Transcript
[Background music plays]
Upbeat electronic music
[Video footage]
Worker grinding metal with power tool causing many sparks to fly. Workers on bikes going past. Aerial view of shipyard. Time lapse video of floating liquid natural gas (FLNG) facility being build. Worker welding metal above him. Willie Gray walking along construction site. Willie Gray looking under hull with flashlight.
[Narration]
It’s a Friday afternoon at the Samsung Shipyard in South Korea, and a giant step forward in the creation of Shell’s Prelude project is about to be taken. Just three months ago, the keel was laid for the world’s first floating liquid natural gas facility, and one of the most ambitious engineering projects in the world of energy began to emerge. Today, Willie Gray is preparing for the next big milestone. His team is responsible for what the engineers like to call the substructure. Put simply, it’s the biggest hull ever built.
[Willie Gray]
This is part of the half-section. It’s 60,000 tons.
[Video footage]
Willie Gray looking around with flashlight. Willing walking around under hull.
[Narration]
For over a year now, Willie has been hard at it, working long hours to make sure it all takes shape.
[Text displays]
Willie Gray. Substructure Manager.
[Willie Gray]
My wife always complains that I’m married to Samsung and not to her. She’s actually just left today to go back to the UK. I’m not sure if tomorrow’s event’s got something to do with that.
[Video footage]
Shipyard with signs in Korean lettering.
[Narration]
Tomorrow, Willie’s team faces their biggest test yet in this daunting challenge.
[Background music plays]
Energetic guitar and drums rock music plays.
[Video footage]
Crew welding and walking around the yard. Bulldozer moving crate. Forklift moving gas tanks. Worker wearing Shell logo hard hat. Half-section with two big pink spherical tanks. Second half-section with big U-shaped gaps. Willie walking around inspecting pillars.
[Narration]
After months of sweat and toil and precision engineering, two sections of the enormous hull are set to be joined together. To do that, the 60,000 ton half-section must be transported across Geoje Harbour to join its twin. It’s an operation that will require all the skill of a surgeon, so Willie and the team are making doubly sure everything is in place.
[Text displays]
Arto Hopeakoski. Construction Quality Lead.
[Arto Hopeakoski]
There’s a few thousand blocks underneath keel blocks. If they are off the tolerance, then you may have a punctured bottom plate or some indents.
[Video footage]
Panning shot of keel blocks in harbor. Shot of half-section with two pink spherical tanks. Willie Gray in front of half section speaking to camera.
[Narration]
If all goes to plan, by Monday nearly half a kilometer of hull will be perched neatly on top of those blocks in the dry-dock. If it doesn’t, it could seriously jeopardize this world-first project.
[Willie Gray]
We’re not expecting that to happen, but we actually won’t find out until Monday morning, so I suppose there’ll be a few people that are maybe thinking about that a bit over the weekend.
[Background music plays]
Upbeat drum and bass music.
[Video footage]
People walking along a beach. Someone driving a personal water craft towing a canoe full of people. People in the water with inflatable rings.
[Narration]
It’s summer vacation in South Korea. The shipyard is almost entirely on holiday, except for the team working on Prelude.
[Background music plays]
Eerie, suspenseful music.
[Video footage]
Workers in shipyard turning valves and walking around. Aerial time lapse shot of shipyard at night, lit up with bright lights. Area near half-section with big tanks filling up with water. Willie Gray looking intently off at something. Shot of half-section floating on water in shipyard.
[Narration]
At midnight, the valves are opened, and the delicate process of sinking the floating dock begins. Millions of liters of water enter the ballast tanks beneath the surface. As the dock slowly submerges, for the first time the 60,000 ton structure begins to float. By daybreak, when Willie arrives, he’s greeted with this.
[Video footage]
Willie speaking to camera. Water pouring out of ship at bottom.
[Willie Gray]
Well, everything’s going quite well, actually. It has a little bit of a heel towards port side at the moment. That will be adjusted using the ballast pumps on board. We will see how that progresses and how long that’s going to take.
[Background music plays]
Eerie drum music.
[Video footage]
Time lapse of water flowing into dry-dock covering keel blocks. Dry-dock filling with water again in time lapse. Time lapse of floating gate being pulled away by boats. People biking, heat rising from the asphalt. Workers walking along a railing. D. U. Lee speaking with another engineer.
[Narration]
Over at the dry-dock, it’s a slightly different procedure. Water flows in, gradually easing the aft section off the keel blocks below, but things don’t go completely to plan. In the early hours, a small leak in the ballast tank force the operation to grind to a halt. Fortunately, the problem was quickly solved. At daybreak, everything is in place and the gates to the dry-dock now can be removed. By mid-day, conditions are heating up. Temperatures have soared into the high 30s. The Samsung project manager D. U. Lee is getting an update. He’s been working here for years, but has never built anything like this before.
[Text displays]
D. U. Lee. Samsung Heavy Industries.
[Video footage]
D. U. Lee speaking to camera.
[D. U. Lee]
The conditions are so calm. It is very, very useful to float for this project. So, I think God is helping us now.
[Video footage]
Workers chanting in Korean and doing a group huddle. Workers boarding a small boat. Boat with workers moving towards hull. Willie’s team of engineers looks on at the hull. Aerial shot of shipyard. Willie Gray speaking to camera with engineers in background.
[Narration]
At 1:00, the marine crew takes control, boarding the hull to prepare for the tugboats. No less than six will be needed for the job.
[Willie Gray]
This is the culmination of a lot of work for the shipyard, a lot of pre-planning. I think probably in about 30 or 40 minutes from now it should be entering into dry-dock number three.
[Background music plays]
Energetic rock music.
[Video footage]
Time lapse of tugboats pulling half-section across to other dry-dock. Cables connected across hull to secure it to the dock. Workers look on.
[Narration]
And right on schedule, the launch begins. The tugs navigate a 1.5 kilometer stretch of the harbor, then wrestle the hull through the gates of the dry-dock.
[Background music plays]
Gentle harp-sounding music.
[Video footage]
Engineers looking at the hull across the water. Panning shot of tugboat pulling half-section. Frank Groen speaking to camera. Panning shot showing height of hull.
[Narration]
Inside, the full scale of the project is beginning to emerge.
[Text displays]
Frank Groen. Production Coordinator.
[Frank Groen]
I think it really comes to light now, the size of the facility. You look at the top section on the top deck, you’ve got 40 meters above that yet, so, yes, it’s massive.
[Text displays]
Brent Geeves. Maintenance Coordinator.
[Brent Geeves]
So, you’ve got so many facets. You’ve got the marine piece with the hull structure, you’ve got the process piece which sits on top, as well as the communications piece. I’ve been around Shell for 32 years. This thing has got to be one of the biggest things I’ve ever seen in my life.
[Video footage]
Half-section in water pulled by tugboats. Sunset through evergreen trees. Half-section with big pink tanks floating on water.
[Narration]
It’s been 17 hours, and so far so good, but as the day draws to a close, one of the most critical parts of the whole operation is about to begin.
[Background music plays]
Suspenseful high-bass music.
[Video footage]
Red and white cables attaching hull to side of dock. Panning shot of cables attached to hull. Worker walking and speaking into radio, then signaling with hands. Time lapse of cables being attached and pulled to move hull into position at nighttime.
[Narration]
Hundreds of tension lines are hooked up. As water leaves the dry-dock, these ropes will be twisted and turned, gradually pulling the hull onto the heel blocks below. It’s a dangerous operation that needs to be carefully managed, and if one of the ropes were to snap, the consequences could be fatal. The procedure continues through the night. It will be morning before the Prelude team can truly gauge its success.
[Video footage]
Sun rising over shipyard. Shipyard sign reading Samsung. Engineers on bikes and scooters. Willie on a bicycle. Engineers welding bottom of hull, which has big round holes in it. Willie and Arto inspecting keel blocks.
[Narration]
At sunrise on Monday, the Samsung shipyard springs back to life. Thousands return to work where the two sections are now standing tall. Months of planning has come down to this. It’s time to inspect the hull. The dry-dock is already buzzing with activity. Willie and Arto get straight to it checking for any signs of damage.
[Willie Gray]
We’re just making sure that there wasn’t any heavy touch points during launching or keel touchdown. It all looks perfectly okay.
[Video footage]
Willie inspecting welded areas on hull with flashlight. Willie using measuring tape to measure the gap. Willie speaking to camera.
[Narration]
Now to the critical point where the hull comes together.
[Willie Gray]
If you look through the gap here, you can see all the way up to the upper deck.
[Narration]
Despite all the challenges, it’s come down to just millimeters.
[Willie Gray]
The gap is fairly uniform, about 10 millimeters, and the offset between the two section is varying between 10 and 20.
[Narration]
The two blocks match perfectly.
[Background music plays]
Upbeat electronic music.
[Video footage]
Panning shots of hull. Worker welding bottom of hull. Willie and Arto gazing up. Willie and Arto looking at camera with hull in background.
[Narration]
The sections are a world away from becoming the hull of the largest offshore floating facility ever built. It’s a huge achievement for the Prelude team, but Willie knows there’s little time for celebration.
[Willie Gray]
We’ve done well so far, but the challenges ahead are great, but not insurmountable.
[Video footage]
Worker welding hull. Worker using wrench. Hull in shipyard.
[Narration]
There’s much to be done, but the creation of the world’s first FLNG facility has just moved closer to becoming a reality.
[Graphics]
Shell logo. Text reads “© Shell International 2013.”
Construction starts at the world’s first FLNG project
Title: Construction starts at world's first FLNG project
Duration: 4:04 minutes
Description:
Construction starts at world's first FLNG project
At sites in South Korea, France and Australia, preparations are made for a major technological advance in LNG production.
Construction starts at world's first FLNG project Transcript
[Video footage]
Sunrise over a bay.
[Narration]
Geoje, South Korea.
[Video footage]
Traffic police officer blows whistle
Workers on motorcycles and bicycles
Workers doing morning tai chi-like exercises
[Narration]
As the sun rises, nearly 30,000 workers prepare to start their day at one of the biggest shipyards in the world.
[Video footage]
Long shot of shipyard
A cluster of workers chant and clap to start the day
[Narration]
For many of them, this is special. They’re creating history, in a world first project that will change the energy industry.
[Video footage]
Various scenes of shipyard workers at work with large machinery.
Worker in protective clothing working with welding equipment.
Large machine moves across factory.
Interview with Rob Kretzers
[Title]
Executive Vice President, Projects
[Rob Kretzers]
It’s pretty courageous what we do here, but that’s how you push the boundary.
[Video footage]
Welder at work. Robe talking with large machinery in background.
[Rob Kretzers]
If we fail, which we will not, yes, then, you know, your reputation is at stake.
[Video footage]
Long shot of shipyard
[Background music plays]
Diligent working music
[Narration]
Shell calls this the Prelude Project, a complicated blend of technology and engineering. It’s being built and designed in no fewer than ten countries.
[Video footage]
Individual shipworkers at work.
Large crane at work in fast motion.
Steam being emitted from machinery.
Large machinery being lifted by crane.
[Narration]
Before a single piece of steel was cut here in Geoje, there was already over four and a half million hours spend in development.
[Video footage]
Individual shipworkers at work.
Design software being used on a computer screen.
[Narration]
In Paris, engineer James Nafraicheur is just one of hundreds working to make the plans a reality.
[Video footage]
Long shots of cityscape, Paris, France.
James Nafraicheur at work at his desk with design software.
Interview with James Nafraicheur
[Title]
Lead Piping and Layout Engineer
[James Nafraicheur]
The really cool thing about what we’re doing is designing something that we’ve never, never built before, and putting a cryogenic liquefaction plant in the middle of the ocean.
[Video footage]
Design software being used on a computer screen.
Workers wearing protective clothing hooking up pipes.
[Narration]
It’s an immense challenge, but Prelude is set to be a game changer. Put simply, it will be the largest structure ever sent to sea.
[Video footage]
Korean shipyard workers at work. Worker pointing to something. Exterior shot of scaffolding around Prelude.
[Narration]
So big it will contain enough steel to build the equivalent of 35 Eiffel towers.
[Video footage]
Component parts of the Prelude project being assembled.
Interview with Nikolle Rodgers
[Nikolle Rodgers]
All these blocks will become gigablocks.
[Background music plays]
More upbeat, active music.
Interview with Steve Burles
[Title]
Prelude Construction HSSE Advisor
[Steve Burles]
Think of it as Lego. Lots of these blocks being put together, it’s absolutely huge.
[Video footage]
Component parts of the Prelude project being assembled
[Title]
Project Planning Engineer
[Nikolle Rodgers]
Every day there are so many more whole blocks everywhere, it’s magnificent.
[Narration]
The sheer scale and ingenuity of this structure is dwarfed only by its uniqueness. In a revolutionary approach, instead of piping natural gas to land, Shell will be taking an entire gas plant to sea.
[Animated sequence]
Animated sequence of the Prelude project, showing the floating gas plant on the surface of the ocean with operations on the sea floor.
[Narration]
Frank Groen and Chris McDermott are just two of the 150 staff that will live and work on board the facility during normal operations.
[Video footage]
Frank and Chris inspect component parts of the Prelude project being assembled
Interview with Chris McDermott
[Title]
Operations Readiness Supervisor
[Chris McDermott]
They’re telling us that it’s going to be like a motel, but, you know, it’s yet to see.
[Background music plays]
Upbeat electronic music
[Narration]
But this will be no holiday. Prelude’s destination, 200 kilometers off the North West coast of Australia, is right in the middle of cyclone alley.
[Animated sequence]
Zoom in on satellite photograph of section of Western Australian coast showing Broome and the
location of Prelude gas field.
[Video footage]
Stormy seas with pounding waves.
Interview with Frank Groen
[Title]
Operations Production Co-ordinator
[Frank Groen]
This thing is built for cyclonic conditions, so it’ll be fine, but it’s a big facility, you know, it’s going to be quite interesting to be out there with a cat five cyclone going over the top.
[Video footage]
James Nafraicheur in Paris working on design software
[Narration]
So engineers have designed an anchoring system on a scale that has never been attempted before.
[Animated sequence]
Animated sequence showing how the sea floor operations connect to the carrier.
[Narration]
Gas from the field enters the vessel through the turret, which is held in place by four groups of mooring lines. The facility can then rotate around the turret, responding to the ocean’s movements, no matter what the conditions.
Interview with Willie Gray
[Title]
Substructure Manager
[Willie Gray]
During a cyclone, with a more than 20 meter sea height, the vessel remains on station, and will remain with the main complement of personnel on board. So there’s a lot riding on us to get it right.
[Video footage]
Satellite image of a cyclone
Korean shipyard workers at work
[Rob Kretzers]
We just cannot afford any incident when we are offshore. It’s too far away, it has too big consequences. So what leaves here needs to be of top quality, and otherwise it will not leave here.
[Background music plays]
Stirring music
[Narration]
The obstacles are substantial, but so are the rewards. Each year, Prelude will produce enough liquid natural gas to meet the needs of a city the size of Hong Kong.
[Video footage]
Korean shipyard workers at work.
[Narration]
And the prize of doing this from places never before thought viable is seen as crucial to the world’s energy future.
[Video footage]
Korean shipyard workers at work
Nikolle walks through the shipyard
[Nikolle Rodgers]
I'm really excited, it is a huge responsibility I must say, but it’s a great feeling to be part of this.
[Text display]
Shell logo
© Shell International 2013
Shell FLNG - Game changer for energy industry
Title: Shell FLNG - Game changer for energy industry - from YouTube
Duration: 1:42 minutes
Description:
Made to meet the world’s growing energy demand for the cleanest burning fossil fuel, the Shell FLNG floating facility will open new natural gas fields at sea, and this video uses simulated images and models to illustrate the dimensions, weight, capacity, durability and location of the facility.
Shell FLNG - Game changer for energy industry - from YouTube Transcript
[Text displays]
Gamechanger for energy industry: Shell to build world’s largest offshore floating facility,
[Animated sequence]
Zoom in on simulated wide angle side-view animation of Shell FLNG facility, hull coloured in red and bearing the words “Shell FLNG” and parts of the superstructure coloured in yellow. The facility casts its shadows on the water as it moves. Blue skies and gentle blue seas form the background, with skies lit to white at the horizon.
[Narrator]
Shell has announced that it’s to build the world’s largest offshore floating facility, which will be a game changer for the energy industry.
[Animated sequence]
Zoom in and pan to reverse angle view of the simulated animation. Again, blue skies and seas form the background, together with the white glare of sunlight and faintly pinkish hues towards the horizon.
Pull back to wide angle bird’s eye view, revealing more detail of the superstructure.
Reverse low angle zoom in at hull level, panning the length of the ship and pulling back to reveal the receding stern.
[Narrator]
From bow to stern, Shell’s FLNG facility will be 488 metres, longer than four football fields, and will weigh around 600,000 tonnes – roughly six times as much as the largest aircraft carrier.
[Animated sequence]
Dissolve to close-up of the grey and yellow superstructure at the stern, panning and pulling back to reverse angle of the same.
Dissolve to low angle view of the hull, zooming sternwards, as the facility moves to dock at another facility lying parallel to it, frame-right. White-domed reservoirs line the dock. The water between bears the reflection of both of these facilities. Blue skies and white sunlight can be seen in the background.
[Narrator]
Shell’s FLNG facility will produce gas from offshore fields, liquefying it on-board by chilling it to -162˚ Celsius. This shrinks the gas by 600 times, allowing it to be shipped globally.
[Animated sequence]
White flash dissolve to zoom in on animation of the globe of the world, Australia in clear view in hues of pink and brown, and white clouds visible over both the continent and the blue seas.
Zoom to the North-western coastline of Western Australia, focusing on the town of Broome. Blue oceans stretch to the north of the coastline and continent seen in hues of brown and green in the lower portion of the frame.
[Text displays]
FLNG Location Prelude Gas Field
Broome, Western Australia
[Narrator]
Shell will be deploying this revolutionary technology first 200 kilometres offshore in Australian waters.
[Animated sequence]
White flash dissolve to front view of the FLNG facility, pulling back to an extreme wide angle shot of the facility atop blue waters with blue skies above.
Pan to underwater shot, still showing the facility above the waters, but revealing a simulated animation of the gas fields on the sea bed, with a network of pipelines stretching along the sea bed and facilities, coloured in yellow, spread across the sea bed. One small part of the facility on the seabed is coloured in blue.
[Narrator]
The facility will be built at a shipyard in Korea and will be used to help open up new natural gas fields at sea that are currently considered too costly or difficult to develop.
[Video footage]
White flash dissolve to wide, oblique angle view of a model of the FLNG facility, a second smaller floating facility alongside of it, frame-left. The two are attached with cables from above, and are resting in rippling, turquoise waters, with sparsely-lit buildings/structures forming the background beyond.
White flash dissolve to close-up of the length of the ship model, stern foremost, lifting and dipping in rough waters.
[Narrator]
Its sheer size will help it withstand very high winds and giant waves. It’s been designed to withstand the severest cyclones – those of category five.
[Animated sequence]
White flash dissolve to aerial zoom in on the stern superstructure, panning around and down to a front-view shot of the stern, including hull and superstructure. The background of blue seas pans to a background of blue skies, fading to pinks as they meet the water at the horizon.
[Narrator]
As a ground-breaking innovation, this will help meet the world’s growing energy demand for the cleanest burning fossil fuel.
[Animated sequence]
White flash dissolve to wide, oblique-angle shot of the superstructure at the bow, including a helipad with helicopter in the foreground. Behind the helipad, a huge Shell logo adorns the superstructure. Blue skies and a setting sun form the background.
Zoom to animated simulation of the helicopter as it rises upwards and out of the frame.
Dissolve to wide panning view of the FLNG facility, the background of skies and seas depicted in matching hues of blues and pinks as the sun sets behind the floating facility.
Zoom to oblique angle view of the facility from stern to bow, the Shell logo on the stern superstructure clear in the foreground and to right of frame.
Fade to black.
[Narrator]
Shell’s decision to make FLNG a reality culminates more than a decade of research and development and 1.6 million man-hours. It builds on the company’s extensive knowledge of offshore production, gas liquefaction, LNG shipping and the delivery of major projects.
More in energy and innovation
Liquefied natural gas (LNG)
We cool natural gas to make a liquid, shrinking its volume 600 times for easy shipping to distant markets.