Shell’s Prelude FLNG has exported its second cargo since it was restarted this month, quashing concerns about fresh operational problems.
The 155,671-cbm Oceanic Breeze (built 2018) departed the floating LNG production unit off north-western Australia with a cargo on Monday, bound for Japan, where it is due to arrive on 1 February.
There had been concerns that Prelude had suffered new operational problems after two ships, the 174,000-cbm GasLog Glasgow (built 2016) and the 147,608-cbm Symphonic Breeze (built 2007), which had been signalling arrival at the floater, were diverted elsewhere.
But those working with the FLNG said the operability condition window for the floater, in which the weather and sea state are suitable for loading, was the issue.
Data analysts Kpler said a category-two cyclone had been expected in the area over the past few days.
Prelude exported its first cargo after a near year-long shutdown on board the Symphonic Breeze on 7 January. The ship discharged its cargo in Japan this month.
Shell halted production on the 600,000-tonne unit last February after an electrical trip led to a series of extensive investigations and repairs.
Seawater was found to have damaged the complex electrical wiring on board, causing corrosion and complicating the job of restoring power systems.
A cooldown cargo was shipped in November in preparation for the restart of production.
Prelude FLNG, which has the capacity to produce 3.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG, in addition to LPG and condensate output, originally started exports in June 2019.
It had shipped eight LNG cargoes before its shutdown last year.
