GE Oil & Gas, Florence, Italy, announced February 16 that its advanced compressor technology is minimizing liquefied natural gas (LNG) boil-off gas flaring at LNG berths at the Ras Laffan Port, Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, by making productive use of the gas that boils off during loading of the LNG carriers.

The company explained that gas that was previously boiled-off and flared during the loading of LNG carriers in Ras Laffan Port will now be collected from the LNG carriers and transferred to a central compression area via large diameter stainless steel pipelines. At the central compression area, GE compression units will compress the gas and send it to the LNG trains primarily for use as fuel gas.

For the scale and complexity of the LNG project, GE said it is a “milestone boil-off gas recovery project that will enable minimization of gas flaring to the fullest extent possible, helping conserve Qatar’s natural resources.”

Joe Mastrangelo, vice president, turbomachinery, GE Oil & Gas, said, “We’re extremely pleased that GE technology has been selected to play a major role in this significant, environmentally focused project for Qatargas and RasGas. The project strengthens the relationship we have developed with Qatar over the years, supplying key LNG equipment and services that are supporting Qatar’s position as the world’s largest LNG producer.”

GE will supply six electric, motor-driven compressors, mounted on a single lift base-plate to facilitate installation at site to Fluor Transworld Service, Inc., the engineering, procurement and construction management contractor for the Qatargas Jetty Boil-Off Gas Recovery Project.

The equipment will be manufactured and tested at GE’s sites in Florence and Massa, Italy, according to GE.