GPA founded in the US in the 1920's. In 1983, GPA Europe was established as a parallel organisation.

We currently have over 200 members, including the great majority of European gas companies. We aim to provide a forum to share ideas by bringing together business and technical leaders from a range of gas processing organisations across 20+ countries.

We are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing gas processing, LNG, hydrogen, carbon capture, and associated energy technologies across Europe and beyond.

We bring together students, engineers, technical specialists, business leaders, and operating companies to share knowledge, develop best practices, and shape the future of the gas and energy transition industries.

Here at GPAE , our role is two-fold:

1  GPAE promotes technical and operational excellence

2  GPAE serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and information

This month we are looking back to a paper from Bill Howe and Geoff Skinner, Gasconsult Limited. The most downloaded paper from last month, presented at the GPA Europe Spring Conference 2019.

"Zero Refrigerant Liquefaction Developments in the ZR-LNG Technology"

"Increasing LNG plant complexity and the high capital costs associated with recent mega-scale LNG developments are being challenged to improve project economics and reduce commercial risk. The patented ZR-LNG process requires no external gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon refrigerants, no refrigerant extraction, import system or storage facilities and no ongoing refrigerant make-up. It provides a simpler and safer low-cost liquefaction solution whilst achieving an energy efficiency close to dual mixed refrigerant schemes. Heavy components and aromatics can be removed within the expander-based ZR-LNG liquefaction unit, without need for a scrub column or stand-alone upstream turbo-expander NGL recovery unit, thus significantly reducing investment cost and footprint of the liquefaction train. This elimination of equipment reduces capital cost and together with the absence of liquid hydrocarbon refrigerants makes the process particularly well suited to FLNG where weight, space constraints and safety are key design drivers. The paper will describe the design development of a gas turbine driven nominal 1.5 Mtpa FLNG unit and other recent developments around the ZR-LNG process. Data on process efficiency, footprint, weights and costs will be included."