Fri, 10/31/2014 - 00:00

LONDON (Oct. 31, 2014) – Rolls-Royce announces that BG Group has selected the Trent 60 DLE industrial gas turbine as the driver for the main refrigeration compressors in the proposed Lake Charles LNG Export project in Louisiana. BG Group and Rolls-Royce have also agreed to the terms of a long-term service agreement covering the support and maintenance of the equipment for up to 25 years that will help deliver high levels of availability for this important liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. Both the equipment and service contracts are expected to be activated in the first half of 2015, subject to the U.S. LNG plant permitting process and final investment decisions by BG Group and Energy Transfer, the developers of the project. Each of the three LNG trains will utilize four Trent 60 DLE gas turbines as part of the Air Products C3MR refrigeration process. Each train will employ two Trent 60 DLE gas turbines driving propane compressors and two Trent 60 DLE gas turbines driving mixed refrigerant compressors for a total of 12 Trent 60 DLE gas turbines in the plant. With an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) rating of 54.2 MW and 43.6 percent thermal efficiency, the Trent 60 DLE, which is based on the aero Trent 800 with more than 20 million operating hours, is the most powerful and fuel-efficient aero-derivative gas turbine available. With more than 300,000 hours of experience in mechanical drive, a compact plot plan and field-proven high levels of availability and reliability, the Trent 60 is ideal for both onshore and offshore LNG facilities. “We’re delighted with BG Group’s vote of confidence in the Trent 60 DLE,” said Andrew Heath, president of Rolls-Royce Energy. “We believe our aero-derivative technology will become the leader in the LNG sector, due to its superior economics. We are looking forward to a long and productive relationship with BG.” The proposed Lake Charles LNG Export project has been granted conditional authorization by the U.S. Department of Energy to export up to 2 billion cubic feet per day (or approximately 15 million metric tons per year) of LNG to non-free trade agreement nations. In addition, an application has been filed with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking the Commission’s authorization for the siting, construction, ownership and operation of the project. Energy Transfer will own and finance the proposed facility, and BG Group is responsible for the offtake. BG Group will also select the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and manage construction. Upon completion, BG Group will operate the proposed facility under a long-term agreement with Energy Transfer. Rolls-Royce’s vision is to create better power for a changing world via two main business segments, Aerospace and Land & Sea. BG Group plc specializes in natural gas, with a broad portfolio of business interests focused on exploration and production and liquefied natural gas.