Reviews & Ratings for the Prelude

In a critical operational shift, Shell has evacuated 150 non-essential personnel from its Prelude Floating LNG facility following a power outage triggered by a fire on December 2. The incident has hindered efforts to restore vital power systems at the facility. The evacuation was facilitated by a helicopter from Inpex Corp. and a rescue vessel, as the absence of functional power left workers without essential services such as ventilation, potable water, and sewage treatment. The Prelude LNG plant, which has already halted production and postponed the loading of a scheduled cargo on December 3, is currently grappling with power restoration efforts. The fire, which erupted in an electrical equipment area, has raised concerns over a potential prolonged shutdown of the plant, exacerbating the already strained global natural gas supply. With ongoing power issues, Shell and its partners are now contemplating the cancellation of the planned LNG cargo loading.

On the evening of December 3, 2021, a fire incident occurred on the Prelude floating LNG facility, stationed off the coast of the Kimberley region in Australia. The blaze, which ignited around 11 p.m. in an area housing electrical equipment, prompted an immediate shutdown of the facility and forced the crew to rely on backup power systems. Swift action led to the activation of the facility's automatic fire suppression systems, which successfully extinguished the fire before it could spread any further. Fortunately, all personnel aboard were reported safe and accounted for. The incident, however, led to a loss of main power, and as restoration efforts begin, the facility is currently operating on backup diesel generators. Production activities on the Prelude have been temporarily halted while these critical safety measures are addressed. The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has been notified by Shell, the operator of the facility, and has initiated an investigation into the fire. This recent fire follows a period of steady production for the Prelude, which had experienced a series of operational challenges since its arrival in Australia. Towed to its current location approximately 475 kilometers northeast of Broome in mid-2017, the Prelude faced a delay of 18 months and did not commence liquefied natural gas (LNG) production until early 2020, due to complex technical issues that required extensive fixes. After just six months of operations, NOPSEMA restricted Shell from conducting numerous maintenance activities until they could rectify their procedures pertaining to the safety-critical isolation of equipment, citing serious risks to personnel health and safety at the facility. Consequently, the Prelude had been offline for a significant portion of 2020 as additional technical difficulties were addressed.

In a significant development for the energy sector, Shell's Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility has delivered its inaugural shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This historic event took place off the coast of Western Australia, where the Prelude FLNG is now firmly positioned. On Tuesday, Shell confirmed that the LNG carrier Valencia Knutsen has set sail with the first cargo, en route to clients in Asia. The Prelude FLNG, a remarkable feat of engineering, is operated in conjunction with partners INPEX (17.5%), KOGAS (10%), and OPIC (5%). This cutting-edge facility is designed to extract and liquefy natural gas at sea, facilitating direct loading onto vessels for global distribution. This milestone not only highlights the advancements in offshore energy production but also underscores Shell's commitment to meeting the growing demand for natural gas.