LNG ship-to-ship transfer systems are regarded as one of the critical enabling technologies for gas production from remote offshore reservoirs and have the potential to make the LNG value chain more flexible on the regasification side. Gutteling BV (Rotterdam) is an independent supplier of multi composite hoses that can be integrated and used in different LNG offloading configurations.

A comprehensive qualification program has been initiated by Gutteling BV to prove that its LNG 8-inch transfer hose complies with the future EN-1474-II standard. Investigations and tests are being carried out by the research organisation TNO (Delft) under the active supervision of Gutteling bv and Exmar (Belgium) and with support from Excelerate Energy (Houston) and Skaugen (Norway).

As an extension of the qualification program, an official flow test was performed by TNO on 11 September 2008 at the Nikkiso Cryo test facility in Las Vegas, USA. The test was attended by the above mentioned companies and witnessed by SIGTTO, SHELL and TOTAL along with the classification societies DNV, ABS and Bureau Veritas.

The LNG flow test has proven the capabilities of the cryogenic hose that cannot be proven by water or other fluids at ambient temperature. In addition to determining the actual pressure drop under real LNG transfer conditions, the hose has been tested for methane gas permeability, flow-induced pulsations and vibrations, mechanical natural frequencies, temperature distribution along the hose and maximum flow capacity.

The results evaluated this week showed that the Gutteling BV hose successfully passed the requirements of the test program. After the cryogenic fatigue test, which is now ongoing, has been finalized, certification of the hose according to EN1474-II will be a fact.

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