Ophir Energy hopes that its Fortuna scheme off Equatorial Guinea will be the world’s fourth floating liquefied natural gas project to come on line.

Petronas’ Satu FLNG project came on line off Malaysia this year, with Shell’s huge Prelude vessel now undergoing commissioning off Australia.

Perenco’s Kribi FLNG scheme in Cameroon is due to deliver its debut cargos early next year, with Ophir targeting 2020 or 2021 to begin production from Fortuna.

However, with Petronas eyeing a 2020 start-up from its Dua FLNG vessel in Malaysia, Fortuna could be the fifth project of its type.

Ophir said the Hilli Episeyo FLNG vessel — Golar’s first FLNG conversion and sister ship to Gandria, which is destined for Fortuna — is expected to leave Keppel’s yard in September or October for initial commissioning off Singapore.

It is ready to start operations at Perenco’s Kribi field in November, with first LNG cargos due to be sent out in the first quarter of 2018.

Ophir chief executive Nick Cooper told analysts last week that the Gandria — which, unlike the Cameroon vessel, will be turret-moored at location — is currently 16 kilometres outside Keppel’s yard and will probably move into the facility when Hilli Episeyo leaves.

Meanwhile, Cooper also told analysts that, if a debt-funding deal with the Chinese banking syndicate falls through, there is a backup plan.

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Hilli Episeyo on course for fourth spot