Until now, there has been no international standard describing the methods for fiscal measurements and suitability for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, despite the growing international market for small scale LNG bunkering.
DNV GL’s updated Recommended Practice (RP) is the first industry guidance on how to perform quality measurements and quantity metering of LNG fuel supply.
In order to continue meeting and supporting the market in its growing demand for cleaner fuels and versatile LNG applications, DNV GL has updated its RP for Development and operation of LNG bunkering facilities (DNVGL-RP-G105).
The RP now includes a section dedicated to determining LNG quantity and its properties. The objective is to assist operators in addressing the large spread in properties, density and the calorific value among the available LNG sources globally.
This update is a key driver for the monetization of the LNG small scale distribution and infrastructure, helping to develop a more transparent and compatible market and to safeguard sustainable growth.
The RP enables the industry to understand the business impact of proper fiscal measurement. Gas from different sources with various compositions can result in substantial variation in energy content and burning properties. This may have implications for billing, the expected voyage distance and safe use in terms of operations.
“The specification of LNG as a marine fuel and required metering methodology has until now been a missing piece in the LNG as fuel puzzle,” says Martin Layfield, global segment leader of the Gas Value Chain, DNV GL. “This new RP completes the picture and will provide a level playing field for the billing process of LNG and documentation around the gas quality.”