6, 3) ey 2) 5) (60) 6) 2) (8) 69) United States Patent Prible et al. LNG FLOATING PRODUCTION, STORAGE, AND OFFLOADING SCHEME Inventors: Donald Peible, Spring, TX (US); Robert R. Huebel, Sugar Land, TX (US); Jorge H. Foglieta, Missouri ity, TX US) Assignee: ABB Lummus Global, Randall Gas Technologies, Houston, TX (US) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis pateat is extended or adjusted under 35 USCC. 1544b) by 3 days Appl. No. 10/485,467 Filed: Jun. 5, 2003, Prior Publication Data [US 20080226373 AL Dee. 11,2008 Related U.S. Application Data Provisional application No. 611386,375, filed on Jun, 6 Int. C17 US. Cl. Fleld of Search F25y 100, FI7C 13908 62611; 621613; 62/532 62/606, 611, 612, 2613, References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4041721. 1 S977 Kiel 92,82,27,80,90- US 6,889,522 B2 May 10, 2005 USO06 (10) Patent No. 5) Date of Patent s8952282 Is 510258008 6/1991 Manin SSTRSL A M1900 Breet. @ounsts A 121900 Beek ea e1gs02 BL 7/2002 Foglia 653024 B2 3203 Pox annus AL 972001, Posi S2MSI2 AL 112002 Reynen eta FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS op amsi7 A 21980 Primary Examiner—William C, Doeeler (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Bravewell & Patterson LLP 6 ABSTRACT A process and apparatus for exploitation and liquefaction of| ‘natural gas in offsbore stranded gas reserves. Two ordinary raulical vessels are used lo progice, store and unload LPG ‘and LNG. Typical font end processing is performed on the first vessel. The treated inlet gas is transported to the second vessel where the seam goes through liquefuetion and storage until it is oloaded toa transport vessel for shipment. The liquefaction process milizes two refrigerant cycles that utilize two expanded refrigerans, a least onc of which is circulated ina gas phase refrigeration cycle. The refrigerants fand the inlet gas siram are tramsported between the two vessels by the use of piping, Electicity ean be generated 10 provide power forthe compression sections ofthe reiis- tration eyeles. Turbines, engines, or boilers rom the vesels cean be used for generating electricity since they are no Tonger needed for locomotion purposes 22 Claims, 3 Drawing SheetsUS 6,889,522 B2 Sheet 1 of 3 May 10, 2005 U.S. Patent 06'08'L2'78'26US 6,889,522 B2 Sheet 2 of 3 May 10, 2005 U.S. Patent zB se70KQ uoBIEB yey JepuEdx jepuedepyl jeng Bus) ONT JO UORONPAUS 6,889,522 B2 Sheet 3 of 3 May 10, 2005 U.S. Patent BL € 64US 6,889,522 B2 1 LNG FLOATING PRODUCTION, STORAGE, AND OFFLOADING SCHEME RELATED APPLICATIONS ‘This application elaims the benefit of a provisional appli cation having US, Ser. No, 60/386,375, filed on Jun. 6, 2002, which hereby is incorporated by reference in its eatery, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1, Technical Field of the Invention ‘The present invention relates to liquefied natural gas (LNG) processes. More specifically, this invention celatest0 ‘offshore LNG production on nautical vessels for stranded, as reserves, 2. Description of Prior Ast [Natural gas i ts mative form most be concentrated before it cam be transported economically. The use of natural gas has increased significantly in the recent past due to its ‘cvironmentally-riendly, clean burning. characterises, Burning natural gas produces less carbon dioxide than any ‘other fossil fuel, which is important since carbon dioxide ‘emissions have been recognized as a significant factor in ‘ctsing the greenhouse effect. LNG is likely to he used more. * and more in densely-populated urban areas with the increased concern over environmental issues, Abundant natural gas reserves are located all over the ‘work, Many of these gas reserves are located offshore in places that ae inaccessible by land and are considered to be ‘Stranded gas rescrves. Reserves of gis are being replenished faster than oil reserves, making. the use of LNG more Jmportant to the future. In liguid form, LNG occupies 600 times less space than natural ga in ils gaseous phase. Since ‘many areas ofthe world eanot be reached by pipelines due to technical, economic, or political reasons, using nautical vessels to transport LNG is an ideal choice ‘Various schemes have been developed through the years tw allow production of gas inthe stranded gas reserves, Most schemes consisted of laying ot a traditional LNG process= ‘ng unit on the top of & dedicated floating barge o¢ nautical ‘vessel that was specifically built for the floating LNG. process, However, most previous attempts have been cost prohibitive due to the logistics involved in such a process And the expense of custom made nautical vessel, Ta ausition to the high cass that average USD $180 million for 4 iypical LNG courier, the extremely long lead times of round three years required to manufacture a custom nit- tical vessel also adds considerable time and costs 10 the production projects. In US. Pat. No, 6,003,603, Brevik teaches the use of 180 ‘hips for the processing and Storage of oshore natural gas The fies ship includes the fel installation for gas treatment. ‘The treated gas is then transferred in compressed form to a0, ILNG tanker for conversion toa liquefied form, which is stored on the LNG tanker, Breivi utilizes «single refrg- ‘rant for cooling purposes within the liquefaction proces, ‘which is either in 8 Liguid phase or a mixed phase. Onoe the TING tanker slorage vessels are full, the [LNG tanker is disconnected from a buoy 10 whieh itis attached and sets ‘sil. Another LNG tanker takes ils place to receive the Treated ilet gas fo liguelsetion, The LNG tanker is required to be seaworthy in order to transpon the LNG prodiet from the stranded reserves 1 Facilities for Further use ‘Annced exists for more economical and efficient method ‘of producing gas in the stranded yas reserves. It would be 2 desirable to use existing nautical vessels, which are readily available and are not as expensive as the custom nautical vessels of the prior ar It would be advantageous for the TING liquefaction process unit to be relatively compact to 5 enable the process tobe installed upon a nautical vessel, Tt ‘would be advantageous to provide » process apparatis for exploitation and liquefaction of natural gas offshore in the sland gas reserves through the use of existing nautical vessels SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION ‘The present iaveotion includes @ process and apparatus {or exploitation and liguefaction of natural gas in offshore stranded gas reserves, The present invention uses two ord ‘ary nautical vessels to produc, store and unload LPG and TENG, as opposed to using one that is specifically built for a Aoating LNG processing unit. LPG could be produced on cach nautical vessel. The first vessel is referred to a8 a9 LPG/FPSO (Liquefied petroleum gasiflating_ production, storage, and olllading) vessel. The second vessel i refered to as an LNG/FPSO vessel, The Vessels ean be vessels that are no longer seaworthy since the vessels will remain Sationary during the entire produeton en, The term "se3- ‘worthy can include vessels that have navigation certifies: tions that have expired and are no longer allowed to trans- port materials through navigable waters. These non- Seaworthy vessels can be towed int the location requied t0 perform the methods described herein, In one embexliment ofthe present javention, the front end processing that typically is required for LNG production is performed on the first vessel. The treated inlet gas is lransperted to the second vessel where the siream goes. through a liguefaction process, The liquefied siream is the desired product that i stored on the Second vessel util itis ‘oflosded from an unloading facility from the second vessel to a transport vessel for further shipment. The liquefaction process ullizes two refrigerant cyeles. Each refrigerant velo preferably includes atleast one expander, a lesst one booster compressor, at Feast one reeycle compressor, and at Ieast one heat exchanger, The expander and booster com- pressor of each eycle and the heat exchanger are preferably located on the second vessel and the reeyele compression steps of each cycle are preerahly located on the fist vessel. The reltigerants and the treated fale gas steam are trans ported between the two vessels by the use of piping. The piping can be supported between the two vessels by the use ff a bridge between the two vessels As an alternate embodiment, electricity from generators ean be produced to provide power for the compression section ofeach refrigerant eye, The generators cun include turbines, engines, or boilers, The generators can be installed upon the vessels or more preferably can be the generators formerly associated with supplying locomotion forthe ves- sel upon which the generator is located, Since the vessels are ‘no longer seaworthy, the generators are no longer needed for locomotion purposes and can be used to provide the elec- tity needed to run the compressor sections of the retig- rant eyeles In this second embodiment, the inet gas treatment section is located om the frst vessel, The tated infet gas stream ean be transported from the first vessel to the second vessel through the use of submerged piping, Generators ean be Joested on the frst vessel, the second vessel or on both. If the generator is only located on the frst vessel, a cable ean be used to transport need electricity ta the second vessel. the generator i only located oa the second vessel, a eableUS 6,889,522 B2 7 ‘can also be used to transport needed electricity to the fist vessel, If generators are located on both vessels, then cables for transporting electricity are not needed, but can be inched, Tn both embodiments ofthe present invention, the storage tanks can be membrane tanks, spherical tanks, o the like. A proferred embodiment includes vessels obtained! from spent, non-seaworthy caries that are rerofited to remain stalion- ary forthe peeduction of LPG and LNG, Modifications can bbe made to the vessels, as necessary, such a8 removal of tanks for necded equipment space of the addition of plal- forms to place equipment, if necessary. [BRIEP DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN' ‘So thatthe manner in which the features, advantages and ‘objects ofthe invention, aswell as others which will hecome apparent, may be understood in more detail, more particul ‘description of the invention brelly summarized above may be had by relerence to the embodiment thereof which is ‘lustated in the appended drawings, whieh form a pact of this specification. Is to be noted, however, thatthe draw- ings illustrate only 2 preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of the inven- tion's scope as it may admit to other equally effective ‘embodiments FIG. Lis 4 simplified diagram ofthe stationary nautical ‘vessel ofishore LNG production arrangement of one ‘embodiment of the present invention, which shows the refrigerant units heing separated between the two vessels, FIG. 2 is a simpliied diagram of the turboexpander process used for LNG production in accordance with aa ‘embodiment of the present inventiog, indicating the etrig~ ‘rant cycle process equipment located on each vessel; and FIG, 3is a simplified diggeam of the stationary nautical ‘vessel offshore LNG production arrangement of another ‘embodiment ofthe present invention in which electricity is enerated on first vessel and transferred to the second vessel as needed for the compression steps of the refigera- tion eyeles used to liquefy the treated inlet natural gas ‘stream. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG, 1 iusiates one embodiment of the LNG exploit: tion and liquefaction process of the present invention 10 This embodiment uses turboexpander LNG eyele 70 within ‘wo antical vessels 30, 40, An example turhoexpander LNG ‘eyele 70 can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,302 issued 10 Foglictts und is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 The present invention advantageously provides a system for liquefaction of natural gas offshore. Ina preferred ‘embodiment, the system preferably includes a frst vessel 30, ‘with & front end gas treating process unit 60 mounted thereon and a second vessel 40, The system preferably includes a gas phase refrigerant liquefaction process unit 70 for producing LNG. The refrigerant used inthe liquefaction process 70 remains in the gas phase at al times, creating at least one gas phase refrigeration cyele BL, 91, Typical front ‘nk! processing 60, such as dehydration, ean also be per formed on the first vessel 30, Other example font end processes 60 include contaminant removal. The treated inlet as stream 20 i transported 10 the second vessel 40, where the stream 20 goes through a iquefaction process 27, which '8 shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. The liquefaction sep 27 requires relatively reduced space and could be placed in ‘connection to modified LNG carriers, The liquelied steamy % o 4 24s the desired product that is stored in storage tanks $0 00 the second vessel 40 until itis offloaded at ofloading Ieiltes $5 10a tansport vessel for Curler use. ‘The liquefaction process 70 preferably contains atleast fone expander 80,90, a least one booster eompressor 82, 92 preferably attached fo expander 80, 90, atleast one reeyele ‘compressor 86, 96, and a least one hett exchanger 27. The liquefsetion process 70 utilizes two reigerantcyeles81, 91, ‘wherein the expansion steps 80, 90 and the booster com pression steps £2, 92 of each eyele ace located onthe second ‘vessel 40, and the recycle compression steps 82, 92, 86, 96 ‘of each eycle are located on the frst vessel 30. As shown in FIG. 2 line 100 indicates tbe point at which the process is split between the two vessels The relzgerantsand the treated inlet gas seam 20 are transported between the two Vessels 30, 40 by the use of piping 80, Piping 80 includes. process Swams 20.38, 36, 48, and 46, as shown in FIG. 2. As ‘optionally shown in FIG 1. piping 80.can be supported by & bridge 99 to hold the piping between first and second vessels 30, 40. An LNG storage facility $0 is provided that is preferably mounted on the second vessel 40 to store the TING, The system can also inchide an offloading facility $$ preferably mounted on socond vessel 4 for unloading the TING to transport vessels for further use. ‘As aa alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3, electrical generation from generators 22, cin be produced to provide power for the compression steps 82, 92, 86, 96. Generators 22 can include turbines, engines, of boilers. Generators 22 ‘ean be installed upon the vessels or more preferably ean be the generators 22 formerly associated with supplying loco- ‘motion fr the vessel upon which the generator 22 i locate. Since the vessels 30, 40 axe no longer seaworthy, the {generators 22 are no longer needed for locomotion purposes land can be used o provide tho electricity needed en the ‘compressor sections of the refrigerant cycles 81, 91 Tn this seconel embodiment, the inet gas treatment section 60 is located on the fist vessel 30, The trated inlet gas stream 20 can be transported from the first vessel 30 to the Second vessel 40 through the use of submerged piping 80, ” Generators 22 can be located on the frst vessel 30, the second vessel 40, or on both. Ifthe generator 22 is only Jocated on the fist vessel 30, a cable 78 can be used 10 ansport needed electricity to the second vessel 40. Ifthe {generator 22 is only located on the second vessel 40, a eable ‘can also be used to transport needed electricity tothe frst vessel 30. If generators 22 ae located on both vessels 30,40, then cables 78 for transporting electricity are not needed, but can be included. ely, the electricity is transported between the vessels 30, 40 through the usc of a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system 78, New techoology in high voltage diect curteat (HVDC) transmission is preferred to supply energy to the compression tan in the liquefaction process 70. In both embodiments ofthe present invention, the storage fanks 50 can be membrane or spherical tanks. The vessels 30, 40 can be obtained from spent, non-seaworthy carriers that ae retrofitted to remain stationary forthe production of LPG and LNG. Modifications can be made to the vessels, as necessary, such as removal of storage tanks $0 for needed ‘equipment space or the addition of platforms to place equipment, if necessary. “The frst vessel 30 can be an LPG vessel, an ex-VLCC (Very large Cargo Container), or the like. The ex-VLLCC is preferred. The second vessel 40 can be an ex-LNG Carrer fr fit for purpose LNG carriers. The primary difference between an LPG vesse] and an LNG carter is the materialsUS 6,889,522 B2 5 of conscttion for the storage tks onthe vests. As Serato the use of submerge piping 8 beween he two ‘escls 30,4, is Believed that 8 re 99 could be used berween the ro vessels 30, 40 for wansporting materials between the vessels 30, 40, Piping 80 icles any material Appropriate forthe pp, cin, for example, Hee ‘tri condi, Along with he sytem embodiments methods of ofshore production of liquefied natural gus are advantageously pro- ied. In one embodiment, natal asi suppted to 4 font a gs eating process unt, ich i preferably located ‘ona fet ves 0, o pric rested ets seam 3 ‘Treated inlet gas seam 20 fs uanstered Wo a second vesel 40 weet eae ine gas stream 20s coed to proce 2 tigutied natural gas seam 24, Layuted natural gas Stream 24 peteably expanded taqid expander 77 whic & thea stored within an LNG slorage faclity 80 preferably mounted on the second vesel 40. The sored Tigete natal gas can be unioaded from the LN lore feeliy toa transport vesal for future use Tn all embodiments ofthe present invention, the sep of cootng the Weald net gas sream 20 can Inlade cling SW leat a portion ofthe ated inet es steam 20 by beat ‘xchange Goat wilh frst and second expanded relriger- fis Preferably, at east one othe stan second expanded tetigerans is circulated in gas phase refrigeration evcle 41, 31. Gas phase elrigeranon cycle 1, 91. peteribly fncluds at leas one expander step 80,80, alas ont toosir compressor stop 82, 92, aml at leat one recycle compressor dep 86, 96. The toyele compressor step 86, 96 ‘Spreterably performed on theless! 30. The expander 32,2 te step 81, 91 and the booster compressor si preferably performed on the second vessel ‘As another embodiment of the. present invention, a method of offshore production of liquefied natural gas is Advantageously provided. This embodiment preferably lncludes the step Of supplying natural gas to a frontend gas tteating process unit 60, which s preferably located ona hist veseel 40-10 produce’ a treuted inlet gas sivam 20. A, [encrator 22 istused to generate electricity needed to poser at Teast one of the compression steps. As, previously indicated, generator 22 can include a turbine, diesel engine, ‘or boiler associated with one of both of the vessels. Gen= lor 22 can also bea newly mounted generator 22. Treated {inlet gas stream 20 is transferred to 2 second vessel 40. ‘Treated inlet gas stream 20 is cooled and then expanded 10 produce liquefied natural gi steam 24, Liquefied natural bas stream 24 is then stored withia an LNG storage Facility 50 preferably mounted on the second vessel 40. The lique- fied natural gas stream ean be uoloaded from the second vessel 40 to 4 transport vessel for future use, In all embodiments of the present invention, the nautie vessels 30, 40 will be deployed olsore forthe life of the ‘economic exploitation. The frst vessel 30, the LPGFPSO, feceives gas from production and processes the gst ob bbyproducts, such as gasoline, LPG mix, or specific products like propane and butane. The gas ean also be taken from ‘other sources, such a8 storage vessels or another production ‘vessel, Other gas supply sources will be known to those Stille in the ar ‘As an advantage ofthis invention, the new process and appartis can be used for gas prodiction of stranded natural bas reserves that might otherwise remain dormant. This vention is pasicuarly advantageous since the eos of this type of production proooss are significantly reduced since ‘ordinary nautical vessels ean be used, a8 opposed fo obiain~ ‘ng «custom-made nautical vessel to hold the Hosting LNG processing unit In addition to the cost savings, the lead limes are also drastically reduced since the nautical vessels are realy available, insted of having to wait fora custom ‘made nautical vessel, which typically takes years (0 fabri- cate 6 Another advantage to this new prooess sad apparatus is the ability to export natural gas to Tegions of the world that ‘would otherwise not be able to obiain it This could poten- "lly result in cleaner air and less greenbouse effect globally since more people wouk! have access to this fel source ‘This process and apparatus also assure a cost effective Way to prostuce fuel from this fuel source. ‘While the invention has been shown or described ia only some of is forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the ait that it not $0 limited, but is susceptible 10 various ‘changes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, various means of nautical vessels can be ‘sed to arty the equipment during the gas produetioa, The nautical vessel can be a ship of floating barge or other transportable platform. Equivalent types of vessels will be Known to those skilled inthe art. AS anexher example, i is cevisioned that the process eatried on the nautical vessels ‘could be packaged in small modules forthe convenience of transpertation and installation, This would allow gas pro- ducers 10 rent or lease nautical vessels, as opposed to purchasing their own nautical veses, ‘We clam L.A system for liquefaction of natural gas offshore comprising: a frst stationary vessel that remains sat production of LNG: 4 front end gas treating process unit mounted on the first Stationary vessel for wating a process stream 10 pro- duces a ireated inlet gas streams; 4 second siatonary vessel that remains stationary during eoduction of the LNG; «gas phase refrigerant liquefaction process unit compris: ing at east one refrigerant expander for expanding a least one gas phase refrigerant stream, at leat one booster compressor attached to the expander for com: pressing the a least one gas phase refrigerant stream, at Feast one recyele compressor for further compressing the at Teast one gas phase refrigerant stream, and atleast ‘one heat exchanger for liquetying the cated inlet gas ‘Siam to prodice the ILNG, wherein the expander, the booster compressor, and the heat exchanger” are mounted oa the second stationary vessel and the recycle compressor is mounted on the first stationary vessel for producing the LNG; an expander for expanding the LNG: an LNG storage facility mounted on the second stationary ‘vessel fo store the LNG; and piping for transporting a treated inlet gas stream between the first stationary: vessel ancl the seeond stationary vessel an offloading fucilty mounted on the second Sana wee oF ulsting the LNG to tarp 2. Asystem acconling to claim 1, wherein the piping for transporting the treated inlet gas siream between the fst slationaty vessel and the second stationary vessel further ‘Includes bridge to support the piping between the fist and second Sationary vessels ‘UA system sccording to claim 1, whercin the fist and second sationary vessel comprise non-seaworthy vessel that remain stationary during production of the LNG. 4. A system according (0 claim 3, wherein the fist stationary vessel is selected from the group consisting of an LPG vessel and) an eX-VLCC and the second stationary vessel is selected Irom the group consisting of an ex-L.NG carrer and fit-or purpose LNG carrie. ‘8. A'sysiem according to claim 1, wherein the LNG storage facility comprises at least one storage tank selected from the group cousisting of a membrane tank and a spherical tank. vary duringUS 6,889,522 B2 7 6. A system for liquefaction of natural gas offshore ‘comprising: pl first stationary vessel that remains station= ary during production of LNG; 1 second stationary vessel that remains st production ofthe LNG; 4 front end gas treating process unit mounted on the firs vessel lor tvating an inlet gas stream to produce & ‘treated inlet gas steam; tor for generating electricity mounted on a vessel ‘elected flour the group consisting of the first stationary vessel the second stationary vessel, and combinations thereof; 4 gas phase refrigerant liquefaction process unit compris “ing al least one refrigerant expander for expanding at least one gis phase refrigerant streams af least one booster compressor attached te the expander for com pressing the atleast one gas phase refrigerant stream, at least one tecyele compressor for furier compressing the at least one ges pse refrigerant scam, and a least jonary during fone heat exchanger for liquefying the teated inlet gas Siream to produce the LNG, wherein the expander, the booster compressor, and the heat exchanger” are mounted on the second stationary vessel and the recyele compressor is mounted on the fist stationary vessel for proucing LNG, expander for expanding the LNG an LNG storage facility mounted on the second stationary ‘vessel for storing the LNG; an unloading facility mounted om the second stationary vessel for unloading the LNG: and piping for transporting the teated inlet gas stream boetween the first stationary vessel and the second Slationary vessel 7. Nsystem according to claim 6, wherein the generator Js selected from the group consisting of a turbine, an engine, and a steam boiler 8,Asysiem according to claim 6, furter including a cable for transporting electricity from the fis stationary vessel 10 the second stationary vessel i the generator is located only ‘on the frst Stationary vessel 9. Asysiem according to claim 6, fuer including a cable for tunsporting electricity from the second stationary vessel to the first stationary Vessel ifthe generator is located only ‘onthe second stationary vessel 10. Asystem according to elaim 6, wherein the piping for transporting a tested inlet gas steam between the hist Stationary vessel and the second stationary vessel further Inches a bridge to suppor the piping between the fist and second stationary vessel, ‘L-Asysiem according 10 claim 10, wherein the bridge is used fo suppod the cable between the fist and second Stationary vessels, 12. Asystem according to claim 6, wherein the generator for generating electricity comprises a generator eapuble of proviling poser for locomotion of the vessel upon whicl the generator is mounted, 13. A system according (0 claim 6, wherein the fist and ‘second stationary vessel comprises a don-seawory vessels, that remain stationary during production of the LNG. 14, A sysiem according fo claim 6, wherein the fist stationary vessel is selected from the group consisting of an LPG vessel and ex-VLCC ane the second stationary vessel ' selected from the group consisting of an ex-LNG caret and ¢ f-for purpose LNG eartice, 1S, A system according 10 claim 6, wherein the LNG. ‘forage facility comprises at least one slorage tank selected from the group consisting of a membrane tank and 8 spherical tank, 8 16. method ofofsbore production of liquid natural ss: competing the sep of supplying natural gas to a frontend gas teting process Unit located om 2 fist salionury vessel to produce @ Seated inlet gas steam, the fist sationay vessel temaiiog stationary during production of LNG; transferring he treated inlet gas steam to a second ‘aionary Vesela enti stainary uring produ tion af the ENG: cooling the eal inlet gts stream to produce Liquefied natural gas team; expending the ligueied natura gas steam snd storing te liquefied natural gas steam wihin aa LNG "storage siiy mounted onthe second saionay vessel tnlonding the liquefied ‘natural ga steam fom the ING storage facility 1 a transport vesel for future use 17. The method according o claim 16, whercin the sep of cooling ie treled inet gas stvam includes cooling at Jess postion of the Weated fale gas steam by beat exebange contact with frst-and second expended refrigerants, wherein a east cne of the ist id sccond Cxpanded refrigerants i created in a gas pase relrigear som seh a pe gation Se comping T&A mela of olsior production of liquid natural 38 comprising the steps of supplying natal gas a frontend gas weating process Unt located on fist salionury vessel To produce 2 treated inlet gas stam the fst slaonary wesc] remainigg sattonary during pedueton of LNG: gencrating electnicy from a generator mounted on ‘sel selected from the group consisting of the fist tionary vessel, a second stationary vessel, and come binations thereat transferring the treated inlet gas stream to the second alionty vowel tha enue sationary during produc tion ofthe ING: cooling the eae in natural gas scam expanding the liquefied natural gas steam; storing te liquefied satura gas steam within aa LNG ‘sora faciity mounted on the second salioary ves sel and unloading te Hiquetied natural yas stream from the see- ‘ond sationary vessel to anspor! wesc. 19. The method sccoring o clam 18, wherein the sep of cooling the treated inet gas steam includes coting st feast potion ofthe Weal inlet gat seam by Beat exchange contact with esta second expanded refrigerani, ‘wbcrla al last ‘one of the fir and second expanded Feligeans is circulated in gas phase relrigration cycle, the gas phase reigration eyele comprising atleast one compresion stp. 20, The mcthod secondng claim 19, further inetuing providing electricity 1 provide power to the at Teast one Eompresion sip af Ibe gas phase refigeaton cycle 31. The method according to esi 18, wicrein the sep of generating elecieiy Irom a generator incides gener fog elecwiey from a generator selected from the group costing of turbine, a engine, and a steam bolt 22. The method acoeingW ela» 18, wherein the sep of generating elecity Irom 8 generator inchides genera. dng electricity from a vessel bine awed 10 power for locomotion of the vessel upon which the generator is ‘mounted {gs srcam to produce a liquefied % oPATEN DATED. INVENTOR(S) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION TNO, — ; 6,889,522B2 Page 1 of 1 , Robert R, Huebel and Jorge F. Foglietta Itis certified that error appears in the above-identfied patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below: Column 4, Line 19, remove “not shown’ insert -- 99 ~ ‘produces” to ~ produce ~ Line 58, change “vessel” to — vessels — Column 7, Line 2, remove “P1” Line 7, alter “first” insert - stationary ~ Line 7, change “flour” to ~ from — Line 15, change “streams” to ~ streams ~ Line 57, change “vessel” to -- vessels ~. Line 57, change “comprises” to -- comprise ~ Column 8, Line 2, change “step” to -- steps ~ Line 21, change “mid” to ~ and - Line 20, change “expended” to — expanded -—~ Line 49, change “ad” to ~ and Signed and Sealed this Eighth Day of November, 2005 bgt JON W. DUDAS Director ofthe United Sates Patent and Trademark fice