The Gas Value Chain

Safely producing, transporting and delivering gas worldwide

For decades, the marine and offshore industries have been developing the supply chain to produce and distribute gas worldwide. Industry stakeholders, including maritime safety regulators, offshore producers, ship owners and charterers, terminal operators and equipment manufacturers contribute daily to the safe exploration, extraction, liquefaction, transportation and delivery of gas.

The gas supply chain is already a crucial part of advancing sustainability, delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the markets. Building on this, a similar value chain is being developed for the energy transition, supporting the distribution of carbon-neutral fuels.

Gas production and liquefaction

Floating production units extract natural gas from offshore reserves, then treat and cool the gas to very low temperatures. This liquefies the gas – either natural gas or petroleum gas – which is then stored in floating liquefied natural gas units (FLNG). Bureau Veritas helps clients ensure compliance of all equipment, installations and processes for FLNGs, using our rules for the classification of floating gas units (NR 542).

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Transporting natural gas safely

LNG and LPG are transferred from floating production units to LNG carriers and LPG carriers with suitably designed cargo containment systems to accommodate liquefied gas cargo. Bureau Veritas provides structural integrity evaluations and technology assessments for gas carriers and transfer systems. Our expertise in cargo containment systems, ship’s propulsion and cargo handling systems, ship hydrodynamics and offloading techniques enables ship owners to safely deliver gas to major gas markets all over the world.

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Delivering gas to global markets

Liquefied natural gas carriers transfer their cargo to LNG import terminals, including floating storage and regasification units (FSRU).

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LNG as fuel

LNG bunkering vessels load from these terminals or FSRUs and deliver the LNG to LNG-fueled ships via ship-to-ship transfer.

Bureau Veritas’ classification expertise allows ship owners to safely design, build and operate such technologically advanced vessels.

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