MLA & Turret ESD Flushing at Prelude FLNG Reliable Offshore Performance

AFP recently completed the successful delivery of a specialist flushing and commissioning program for Shell’s Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility, located offshore Broome, Australia.

This project focused on the Main Load Actuators (MLA) and Turret Emergency Shutdown (ESD) systems, both critical for the safety and reliability of offshore operations.

Working to a tight operational window, AFP mobilised its project-tested hydraulic technicians and a full suite of offshore-rated flushing equipment. The team carried out hot oil flushing, accumulator cleaning, and hydraulic commissioning to stringent NAS Class 7 fluid cleanliness standards and above, ensuring long-term system reliability on the world’s largest FLNG facility.

• Rapid mobilisation – deployment of AFP’s offshore-ready team and equipment within client timelines.
• High-capacity flushing rigs – Zone 2-rated 1,000 LPM systems delivering turbulent flow for thorough circuit cleaning.
• Automated accumulator modules – improved efficiency and accuracy for critical flushing operations.
• Real-time cleanliness verification – calibrated inline particle analysers and patch testing to confirm compliance.
• Comprehensive support spread – including oil dehydrators, heater/cooler units, mobile workshops, compressors, generators, transfer pumps and IBCs.
• Complete documentation – Manufacturer Data Records (MDRs) with approved procedures, marked-up P&IDs, and third-party verified fluid cleanliness reports.

The MLA and Turret ESD flushing program was delivered safely, on time, and to full compliance, giving Shell a robust and fully documented hydraulic commissioning solution.

By achieving NAS Class 7 cleanliness and above, AFP provided Shell with confidence in the operational integrity of its hydraulic systems, safeguarding the performance of Prelude FLNG’s critical safety equipment.

This project reinforces AFP’s position as a trusted provider of offshore hydraulic flushing and commissioning services in Australia’s energy sector, delivering projects that balance speed, precision, and safety.

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