LNG: new applications in a fast-growing market

The development of a new high pressure emergency system for Floating Storage & Regasificiation Units

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plays an increasingly bigger part of the worldwide energy mix. Shell has a large position in the LNG market with facilities all over the world. While further maturing this market, research is done to make the market intrinsically safer, more efficient and to add functionality to designs.
During the use of floating structures, used frequently in the LNG business, caution is needed at all times to balance movement from wind and waves. Due to new applications in the market the method of transferring LNG can be very different from say, ten years ago. With the introduction of high pressure transfer systems deployed from ship to ship the risk profile of these operations changed as compared to the low pressure, ship to shore transfer mostly done in the past. By developing a new transfer system Shell has assured itself of safe operations in this dynamic and everchanging market. 

How do you innovate in a fast-growing market?
This lecture will not only detail the technical innovation itself but will also focus on the road leading up to the deployment of such an innovation. Imagine: you are working as an engineer and you realize that certain risks in a new design need more adequate mitigation. You have an idea on how to solve this issue, but what do you do now? There is no standard procedure for this! Do you choose to develop everything in house or do you seek help from outside parties? Which companies can add value co-developing your innovation? What about intellectual property if you were to take the co-develop route? And most of all: how do you make sure as a company mostly known for its petrol stations that this maritime innovation is adopted into the industry worldwide?
The lecture will be in English.

Speaker + title / CV

Pablo A. Vega Perez
Process Engineer LNG Regas & small scale LNG

Pablo studied Chemical Engineering in Madrid before starting his career as a process engineer at an international EPC. During this time he gained experience in both the Front End Engineering (at the start of a project) as well as the Commissioning & Start-Up (at project delivery) phases of large projects. With his extensive experience in LNG Regasification projects he joined Shell in 2012, as part of the LNG Market Access Team. This team aims to develop new markets for LNG worldwide and specifically looks at relevant experience and capacity in any project lead, launching Pablo into the lead role for the development of the High Pressure Loading Arm technology, from concept all the way to deployment, despite his relative young age. In his free time Pablo enjoys making music and travels to further explore the world.