The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project has achieved a significant milestone with the arrival of the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel, Gimi, at its designated location on the Mauritania and Senegal maritime border.
Operated by bp in collaboration with partners Kosmos Energy, PETROSEN, and SMH, the FLNG vessel is a pivotal element of the GTA Phase 1 development. This groundbreaking initiative is anticipated to yield approximately 2.3 million tonnes of LNG annually, contributing to the transformation of Mauritania and Senegal into a global LNG hub over a span of more than two decades.
Emil Ismayilov, bp’s senior vice president for Mauritania and Senegal, expressed satisfaction, stating, “The successful and safe arrival of the FLNG vessel is another step forward for GTA Phase 1 and is testament to our team and partners’ commitment to safely delivering this project. The people behind the project have delivered through many challenges, including the pandemic, to orchestrate a major feat of engineering. We are fully focused on safely completing the project and beginning a new energy chapter in Mauritania and Senegal.”
GTA Phase 1 involves extracting gas from deep-water reservoirs situated approximately 120km offshore. The gas will then be transported through a subsea system to a floating production and storage offloading (FPSO) vessel. This vessel will initially process the gas, removing heavier hydrocarbon components before the gas is transported via pipeline to the FLNG vessel at the GTA Hub. At this location, the gas will undergo cryogenic cooling in the vessel’s four liquefaction trains and subsequently be stored before transfer to LNG carriers. The Gimi FLNG vessel boasts an impressive storage capacity of up to 125,000m3 of LNG.
Golar LNG, the owner and operator of the Gimi FLNG vessel, embarked on a journey from Singapore in November 2023, covering an impressive 9000 nautical miles to reach its final destination. The construction of the vessel, involving more than 36 million work hours, underscores the complexity and scale of this endeavor.
In a demonstration of engineering prowess, the GTA Phase 1 development features wells located in water depths of up to 2850m, establishing it as home to the deepest subsea infrastructure in Africa. Recognizing the project’s significance, it has been granted the status of National Project of Strategic Importance by the Presidents of both Mauritania and Senegal.
As the GTA LNG project advances with the successful arrival of the FLNG vessel, it signals a promising future for the region, enhancing its position as a key player in the global LNG market.
