Underwater gas pressurization units and liquefaction systems, as well as pressurization and liquefaction methods and gas field development methods are provided. Gas is compressed hydraulically by seawater introduced into vessels and separated from the gas by a water immiscible liquid layer. Tall, possibly vertical helical vessels are used to reach a high compression ratio that lowers the liquefaction temperature. Cooling units are used to liquefy the compressed gas, possibly by a coolant which is itself pressurized by a similar mechanism. The coolant may be selected to be liquefied under surrounding seawater temperatures. The seawater which is used to pressurize the gas may be used after evacuation from the vessels to pressurize intrastratal gas in the production stages and broaden the gas field development.

A natural gas liquefaction process suited for offshore liquefaction of natural gas produced in association with oil production is described.

Provided is a natural gas processing facility for the liquefaction or regasification of natural gas. The facility includes a primary processing unit, e.g., refrigeration unit, for warming natural gas or chilling natural gas to at least a temperature of liquefaction. The facility also has superconducting electrical components integrated into the facility. The superconducting electrical components incorporate superconducting material so as to improve electrical efficiency of the facility by at least one percent over what would be experienced through the use of conventional electrical components. The superconducting electrical components may be one or more motors, one or more generators, one or more transformers, switch gears, one or more electrical transmission conductors, variable speed drives, or combinations thereof.

A transportable apparatus for production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) having include a housing, a natural gas feed inlet, a heat exchanger, a phase separator, a liquid outlet disposed on the cold end of the heat exchanger, an LNG product outlet disposed on the cold end of the heat exchanger, a first refrigeration supply, a second refrigeration supply, and wherein the heat exchanger, the phase separator, the first expansion valve, the first refrigeration supply, and the second refrigeration supply are all disposed within the housing. The first refrigeration supply includes expansion of a portion of the LNG product, and the second refrigeration supply can include expansion of another portion of the LNG product or expansion and heat exchange with a supply of liquid nitrogen. The production of LNG is achieved without the external supply of electricity.

A method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) without the use of externally provided electricity is provided The method may include the steps of: providing a transportable apparatus, wherein the transportable apparatus comprises a housing, a heat exchanger, a phase separator, a first refrigeration supply, and a second refrigeration supply, wherein the first refrigeration supply and the second refrigeration supply are configured to provide refrigeration within the heat exchanger; introducing a natural gas stream into the transportable apparatus at a first pressure under conditions effective for producing an LNG stream; withdrawing the LNG stream from the transportable apparatus; and withdrawing a warm natural gas stream from the transportable apparatus, wherein the warm natural gas stream is at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure.

A method includes receiving input corresponding to a proposed configuration of a liquefaction facility and identifying a plurality of components utilized to produce LNG and/or LIN at the facility. The method includes determining an alternative configuration that is different from the proposed configuration. Determining the alternative configuration may include identifying resources accessible to a proposed location for the liquefaction facility and whether at least one of the resources accessible to the proposed location corresponds to a resource generated by a component identified by the proposed configuration, and determining whether to omit at least one component of the plurality of components identified by the proposed configuration. The method includes omitting the at least one component from the alternative configuration, and generating a report based on the proposed configuration and the alternative configuration. The report includes information indicating a difference between the proposed configuration and the alternative configuration.

A method for the production of liquefied natural gas is provided. The method may include providing a high pressure natural gas stream, splitting the high pressure natural gas stream into a first portion and a second portion, and liquefying the first portion of the high pressure natural gas stream to produce an LNG stream. The refrigeration needed for cooling and liquefaction of the natural gas can be provided by a closed nitrogen refrigeration cycle and letdown of the second portion of the high pressure natural gas stream.

A method for the production of liquefied natural gas and liquid nitrogen is provided. The method may include providing a high pressure natural gas stream, splitting the high pressure natural gas stream into a first portion and a second portion, and liquefying the first portion of the high pressure natural gas stream to produce an LNG stream. The refrigeration needed for cooling and liquefaction of the natural gas and liquefaction of the nitrogen can be provided by a nitrogen refrigeration cycle and letdown of the second portion of the high pressure natural gas stream.

A method for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nitrogen is provided. The method may include the steps of: a) providing a nitrogen production facility, wherein nitrogen production facility comprises: a main heat exchanger, an air separation unit, a nitrogen recycle compressor, a first nitrogen refrigeration supply configured to provide refrigeration to the main heat exchanger for cooling a main air feed, b) providing a secondary refrigeration supply; c) liquefying a natural gas stream using refrigeration from the secondary refrigeration supply to form an LNG product stream; wherein the secondary refrigeration supply is configured to compress and expand a refrigerant to produce refrigeration, wherein the refrigerant of the secondary refrigeration supply is shared with refrigerant of the first nitrogen refrigeration supply

A method describing the integration of a nitrogen liquefier and letdown of natural gas for the production of liquid nitrogen and lower pressure natural gas is provided. The method may include: providing a nitrogen liquefier having a nitrogen refrigeration cycle, wherein the nitrogen liquefier comprises a nitrogen compressor, a nitrogen recycle compressor, a heat exchanger, and at least a first turbine booster and introducing a nitrogen gas stream to the nitrogen liquefier under conditions effective for liquefying the nitrogen to produce a liquid nitrogen product. The refrigeration needed to liquefy the nitrogen is provided for by the nitrogen refrigeration cycle and letdown of a high pressure natural gas stream.