Baker Hughes has been awarded an order by Bechtel Energy Inc. (Bechtel) to supply three main refrigerant compressors (MRCs) for NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project in the Port of Brownsville, Texas, US.
In total, Baker Hughes will supply six Frame 7 gas turbines, paired with 18 centrifugal compressors across Rio Grande’s first three LNG trains in a parallel configuration arrangement, providing more operational flexibility for a nameplate capacity of 17.61 million tpy.
Ganesh Ramaswamy, Executive Vice President of Industrial and Energy Technology at Baker Hughes, said: “This order builds on our longstanding relationship with Bechtel and is a significant milestone in our partnership with NextDecade, supporting them on this key LNG project. We are delighted that our technology solution will support the production of LNG in the US, which is crucial in balancing energy affordability, security and sustainability globally.”
The Baker Hughes gas technology solution chosen for Rio Grande LNG provides NextDecade with the highest production levels for the plant’s design, as well as operational flexibility and high availability. The Frame 7 gas turbine is well-proven for its energy efficiency, availability, reliability and maintainability.
Packaging of the turbine/compressor train, as well as assembly of the compressors and testing of the trains, will take place at Baker Hughes’ facilities in Italy.
The announcement follows another recent contract awarded by Bechtel to Baker Hughes to supply two liquefaction trains for another LNG project in Texas, US, announced in March 2023.