3 Challenges Facing FLNG Operators: How Synergy and COEX Can Help

Beyond the usual considerations associated with safety and security at sea, FLNG operators experience specific demands. Here, we examine three and explain how our security and surveillance solutions can help address them.

1. Reducing emissions and environmental impact

LNG is cleaner than coal or oil, making it a preferred transitional fuel. FLNG further reduces environmental impact by eliminating the need for onshore liquefaction infrastructure and pipelines. Still, operators must actively manage environmental risks to reinforce LNG’s green reputation.

Monitor and mitigate methane leaks: Integrate drones, sensors, and devices for fugitive emissions into Synergy security and surveillance software. When paired with radiometric-enabled thermal COEX cameras, Synergy offers real-time insight into equipment faults, hotspots, and abnormal gas readings that may indicate leakage or venting issues.

Streamline environmental responses: Specific data parameters can be alarmed to prompt visual inspection of the issue detected (on central control room screens or workers’ mobile devices). This inspection can be linked to workflows that control and inform any required maintenance dispatch. Functionality such as this greatly reduces reliance on costly manual inspections while ensuring rapid, targeted intervention.

2. Ensuring safety in confined environments

FLNG vessels must accommodate gas treatment, liquefaction, storage, and offloading in limited space. This creates operational complexity and potential safety risks for workers, such as cryogenic burns, toxic vapour exposure, and equipment-related injuries if the correct protocols aren’t followed.

Identify hazards fast: Proximity to dangerous equipment, correct use of PPE for specific zones, appropriate team protocols (where specific tasks require a specific number of people for safety), and slips, trips, and falls (onboard and overboard) can all be automatically detected using Synergy’s AI tools. You don’t need specialist cameras for this, though for FLNG settings certifications for marine suitability and explosive zones will apply.

Enable rapid response and improve training: Automated alerts can trigger safety announcements and direct communication with crews. When integrated with worker ID systems, Synergy can help ensure the nearest qualified person is dispatched quickly. Captured incident footage can be repurposed for training.

3. Maximising efficiency without compromising safety

Due to specialised equipment and construction, FLNG facilities often demand greater CapEx than onshore plants. Maintaining operational efficiency without inflating expenses is crucial in a market of rising energy costs and increasing competition.

Automate to save: Automated inspections and maintenance reduce manual workloads, allowing smaller crews to focus on core operations safely and cost-efficiently.

Centralise support for smaller crews: Synergy's remote access capabilities mean that individuals and teams worldwide can support FLNG crews. This might be a centralised process, security, and safety monitoring – for example, from a corporate HQ. It can also be a cost-effective option for providing expert troubleshooting support without having personnel permanently located offshore. For instance, the system can detect specific process issues and alert onshore experts with the relevant footage and system data.