GE Oil & Gas (NYSE:GE) has started production of four HP/HT dynamic flexible risers destined for the world’s largest floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, Prelude, to be operated by Shell offshore Western Australia, GE said in a news release.

GE said it will manufacture the flexible risers at its facility in Newcastle, U.K., where it has expanded production carousel capacity, enhancing manufacturing capabilities and equipping the site with the ability to accommodate larger diameter risers, which can be produced and delivered in optimum single lengths. The new carousel bays were officially opened in April 2014.

“Despite the industry downturn continuing to affect the LNG market, long-term we believe FLNG has the potential to evolve into a promising segment, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, where there are areas of high energy demand and the presence of large-scale offshore gas fields,” said Andrew Atkinson, commercial director, Asia-Pacific and India, at GE Oil & Gas. “Notwithstanding that, investment in HP/HT technologies should be viewed as critical for both operators and the supply chain looking at exploiting ever-more challenging environments.”

Once manufactured, the flexible risers will be packaged onto purpose built large-diameter reels and transported more than 11,000 km between Newcastle and South East Asia in readiness for subsea installation, the release said.

GE’s project teams for Prelude are based between Perth, Australia, and Newcastle for the subsea equipment scope and Florence, Italy, for the manufacture and supply of two steam turbine-driven compressors, vital elements for the liquefaction process, the release said.