The Exxon Mobil Corp's leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology has brought industrial breakthroughs to the design and size specifications of liquefied natural gas carriers, allowing natural gas to be more efficiently transported to markets around the world. The world's first Q-Max type liquefied natural gas vessel was recently completed. The "Mozah" ship, which can reduce transportation costs, improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution emissions, marks a step change in the field of liquefied natural gas transportation. Because of the economies of scale and engine efficiency, this innovative Q-Max ship can transport more than 80% more goods than traditional liquefied natural gas ships, and the transport energy consumption per unit cargo has been reduced by nearly 40%.
These large liquefied natural gas ships are developed in a joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, which includes a number of industry breakthroughs and major improvements, such as larger ship size, ship borne re liquefaction, low speed diesel engines, double rudder double propellers, and the largest carrier liquefaction that has been built so far. Gas tanks, state-of-the-art hull antifouling protection and better fire prevention systems. The final result of these new generation ships is to reduce transportation costs by 20-30%.
Mr. Faisal Al Suwaidi, chief executive of Qatargas, said, "Qatar oil and Exxon Mobil Corp presided over a major technical work that had made this breakthrough improvement in the LNG transport industry. North Field is the largest non associated gas field in the world, and its recoverable reserves exceed 900 trillion cubic feet. Our LNG value chain extends from the northern gas field to every household in Asia, Europe and the Americas, and transportation is the key link. Using our innovative technology, we have effectively transformed the operation of LNG business and opened a broader global market for Qatar liquefied natural gas. Qatar oil and Exxon Mobil Corp are shareholders of Qatargas, a joint venture in Qatar. Qatargas will hire Mozah ships and five other Q-Max ships to transport liquefied natural gas produced by the new liquefied production line in Qatar.