Training on LNG Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Module 1: The LNG Value Chain

• From natural gas production to liquefaction to shipping to regasification.

• Key players: producers, liquefaction plant operators, LNG carriers, and receiving terminals.

• LNG pricing: oil-linked, JCC, Henry Hub, and spot markets.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Map the LNG supply chain from a producer in Qatar to a customer in Japan, identifying all logistics stages and stakeholders.

Module 2: Liquefaction Process and Plant Logistics

• Liquefaction technologies: APCI, ConocoPhillips, Linde, and Shell.

• Pre-treatment: acid gas removal, dehydration, mercury removal.

• Loading LNG onto carriers: loading arms, vapor return, and sampling.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Plan a loading operation at a liquefaction plant for an LNG carrier, including pre-loading checks, loading rate, and cargo sampling.

Module 3: LNG Carrier Types and Operations

• LNG carrier containment systems: Moss spherical (IHI, Moss) and membrane (GTT).

• LNG carrier sizes: small, standard, Q-Flex, and Q-Max.

• Boil-off gas (BOG) management: reliquefaction vs. boil-off as fuel.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Select an LNG carrier type for a specific trade route (e.g., Gulf of Mexico to Europe), justifying size and containment system.

Module 4: LNG Shipping Chartering and Voyage Planning

• Charter parties: time charter vs. voyage charter.

• Voyage planning: distance, transit time, weather routing, and canal transits.

• Demurrage and laytime calculations for LNG carriers.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Negotiate a time charter for an LNG carrier, including rates, duration, delivery/redelivery conditions, and BOG handling.

Module 5: Regasification Terminals and Receiving Operations

• Onshore and offshore (FSRU) regasification terminals.

• LNG discharge: unloading arms, vapor return, and mooring.

• Regasification: submerged combustion vaporizers (SCVs), open rack vaporizers (ORVs), and intermediate fluid vaporizers (IFVs).

• Send-out to gas grid.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Plan an LNG discharge operation at a regasification terminal, including berth allocation, discharge rate, and tank management.

Module 6: LNG Storage and Boil-Off Gas Management

• LNG storage tanks: full containment, single containment, and in-ground.

• BOG generation: heat ingress, flashing, and tank pressure control.

• BOG management: compression, reliquefaction, or use as fuel.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Calculate BOG generation for an LNG storage tank given ambient conditions and tank specifications, and design a BOG management strategy.

Module 7: LNG Quality and Cargo Measurement

• LNG composition: methane, ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen, and inerts.

• Calorific value and Wobbe index for gas grid compliance.

• Custody transfer measurement: flow meters, sampling, and chromatographs.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Calculate the energy content (MMBtu) of an LNG cargo given volume, density, and composition analysis.

Module 8: Small-Scale LNG Logistics

• Small LNG carriers (bunker barges) for marine fuel (LNG bunkering).

• LNG ISO containers and cryogenic trailers for truck delivery.

• Micro-LNG plants and satellite storage for industrial customers.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Design a small-scale LNG logistics network to supply a remote industrial facility, including truck or barge transport and on-site storage.

Module 9: LNG Safety and Emergency Response

• LNG hazards: LNG spills, rapid phase transition (RPT), fire, and asphyxiation.

• Safety systems: gas detection, water curtains, and emergency shutdown (ESD).

• LNG spill response and firefighting for LNG facilities.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Simulate an LNG spill scenario at a regasification terminal, develop an emergency response plan, and coordinate with local authorities.

Module 10: LNG Trading, Contract Management, and Logistics Optimization

• LNG sales and purchase agreements (SPAs): DES vs. FOB.

• Cargo nomination and scheduling.

• Portfolio optimization: swapping cargoes and backhauling.

• Case Study/Hands-on Exercise: Optimize a monthly LNG delivery schedule for a portfolio of supply contracts and customer regasification terminals, minimizing shipping costs.