Study on the LNG distribution to mobile power plants utilizing small-scale LNG carriers

Abstract

In recent years, the use of small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) has grown alongside demand from industrial users of natural gas. Small-scale LNG is an alternative to the supply of natural gas to remote areas with a cost-effectiveness challenge. To address this challenge, five mobile power plants located in remote areas with limited depth of water level in western Indonesia are used here as a case study. The objective of this paper is to optimize LNG distribution using small-scale LNG carriers and carry out an economic analysis in this region. The capacitated vehicle routing problem model was used to optimize the maritime routing of a small-scale LNG supply chain. The maximization of the volume cargo with a given LNG vessel capacity set as the objective function was therefore provided with the optimum inventory routing and economic analysis of the transport of LNG. Cluster 1 serves three power plants with a total demand of 966 m 3 /day and a distance is 913 Nautical Miles, while cluster 2 serves two power plants with a total demand of 690 m 3 /day and distance of 1,483 Nautical Miles. Economic analysis of the two clusters shows that there is a minimum difference in the margin rate needed to make it worth the investment, which is 3 USD/MMBTU for cluster 1 and 4 USD/MMBTU for cluster 2. Thus, this paper concludes that the cost of LNG transportation depends on the amount of cargo demand and shipping distances.

Performance Analysis of Combined Cycle with Air Breathing Derivative Gas Turbine, Heat Recovery Steam Generator, and Steam Turbine as LNG Tanker Main Engine Propulsion System

“…the further the supplied distance, the bigger compressor must be used; and the environmental safety management is quite difficult considering that the pressure in the pipeline is very high so that a little leak can be fatal to the environment [2][3][4]. Therefore, for cross-sea transportation with long distances, ships are chosen as the mode of transportation [5]. In its development, natural gas transportation using ships is divided into two broad lines, namely, transporting natural gas in the gas phase/compressed natural gas (CNG) and in the liquid phase/liquefied natural gas (LNG).…”

Liquefied Natural Gas Logistics Management Through Optimal Road-Rail Intermodal Logistics Planning Considering Community Safety

“…As a whole, scholars have studied three forms of transportation, which are single, intermodal, and multimodal transportation. Single transportation implies the use of only one mode in transportation (Andersson et al, 2015;Atmayudha et al, 2021;Bittante et al, 2018;Budiyanto et al, 2020;Jianhua & Zhenghua, 2012;Kanda, 2006;Raharjo & Sudibandriyo, 2019;Sangaiah et al, 2020;Zhao et al, 2022). Intermodal transportation employs various transportation modes, serviced by different carriers under multicontracts (Breuer et al, 2022;Buyanova & Mudrova, 2019;Hariraj & Ramanath, 2016;Hart & Morrison, 2015;Palestini & Sassu, 2021;Paulauskas et al, 2022;Rayed et al, 2023;Songbandid, 2016;Utku & Soyöz, 2020;Vasilevich et al, 2016).…”

“…However, the main factors used for making a decision are contracts and alternatives of the facility. Moreover, the authors found the full, partial, and a mix of full and partial capacity constraints only in optimization studies (Andersson et al, 2015;Atmayudha et al, 2021;Bittante et al, 2018;Budiyanto et al, 2020;Paulauskas et al, 2022;Raharjo & Sudibandriyo, 2019;Sangaiah et al, 2020;Utku & Soyöz, 2020;Zhao et al, 2022).…”

Economic Calculation and Operations Research in Terms of LNG Carriage by Water Transport: A Case Study of the Port of Bratislava

“…The LNG supply chain encompasses natural gas carriage from the point of production to the point of liquefaction, where it is stored in liquid form or transported to the point of consumption in various ways. In the hinterland, mainly tank vehicles are used; in coastal areas, there are barges or SS LNG tankers [18,19]. Another option, subsequent transport, also finds application, especially where gas distribution through pipelines is not sufficiently developed.…”

“…Another study addressing the possibility of transporting LNG by SS LNG tankers was carried out in Indonesia [18]. It aimed to optimize LNG distribution using SS LNG carriers and perform an economic analysis in this region.…”