Wison New Energies and Shell sign agreement to bring DMR liquefaction technology to the open FLNG market

Wison New Energies and Shell have signed a collaboration agreement to integrate Shell’s dual mixed refrigerant (DMR) liquefaction technology into Wison’s floating LNG portfolio — a move that opens the technology to the broader FLNG market for the first time. Until now, Shell’s DMR solution had been deployed exclusively in Shell-equity projects.

Agreement overview

The collaboration brings two distinct capabilities under one framework. Wison New Energies will incorporate Shell’s pre-engineered, DMR-based liquefaction technology into its FLNG portfolio, with both companies stating a shared ambition to speed up next-generation FLNG deployment.

The key shift here is access. Shell’s DMR technology had only ever been deployed in projects where Shell held an equity stake — this agreement breaks that pattern entirely, making the technology available to third-party FLNG developers for the first time. The deal positions both companies to pursue a broader range of FLNG opportunities globally, projects that previously couldn’t access this liquefaction solution no matter how strong their commercial case.

Shell’s contribution sits on the technology side: established LNG process expertise and a pre-engineered, DMR-based solution already proven in live projects.

Why the two companies are partnering

This partnership is built around complementary strengths, not overlapping ones. Wison brings an integrated FLNG delivery model covering engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (EPCIC), plus operations and maintenance (O&M), backed by advanced fabrication yards that give it a solid execution foundation. Shell’s contribution sits on the technology side: established LNG process expertise and a pre-engineered, DMR-based solution already proven in live projects.

Together, they’re designed to offer something neither could easily deliver alone. For developers weighing cost competitiveness and schedule certainty, a full-spectrum value proposition combining credible technology with reliable execution is a meaningful differentiator.

What Shell’s DMR technology offers

Shell’s dual mixed refrigerant technology isn’t new — it carries a track record across both floating and onshore LNG facilities. What makes it relevant right now is how it handles several competing demands at once.

On a floating facility, deck space is a hard constraint. Compactness isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a fundamental requirement. DMR’s ability to deliver within a smaller footprint addresses one of the core engineering challenges in FLNG design. The technology can also deliver tailored carbon intensity outcomes, which matters as developers face growing pressure to manage emissions profiles. And because it scales across different project sizes, it isn’t locked into a single commercial model — smaller-scale or larger-capacity deployments can both be accommodated.

Scope of technical support and performance guarantees

The agreement goes beyond a simple licensing arrangement. Shell Catalysts & Technologies will actively support Wison across pre-FEED, FEED, and EPC phases, meaning Shell’s technical involvement continues well into execution on any FLNG project that adopts the DMR solution. That level of engagement points to a structured integration rather than a one-time handover of documentation.

Shell will also provide process performance guarantees on its DMR technology. For developers and financiers evaluating FLNG proposals, those guarantees carry real weight — reducing a layer of technical risk that can otherwise complicate project financing and final investment decisions.

Wison’s Chief Technology Officer, Xuan Chi (Damien) Nguyen, addressed the practical side directly. “By integrating Shell’s DMR technology, we can provide our clients with a wider range of high-performance solutions tailored to their project needs,” he said. The framing points to client flexibility as the primary benefit: matching the right solution to the specific requirements of each project.

Context: The FLNG market and technology access

Floating LNG technology lets developers monetize offshore gas reserves without fixed onshore infrastructure. That flexibility has made FLNG increasingly attractive, especially for stranded or remote gas fields where pipeline or land-based plant options aren’t commercially viable. Demand has grown alongside interest in lower-footprint liquefaction — developers want configurations that deploy faster, at lower capital cost, and with a smaller environmental impact than traditional onshore LNG plants.

Technology access, though, has been a limiting factor. Proprietary liquefaction technologies — including Shell’s DMR — have historically been tied to the equity structures of the companies that developed them. A developer without the right partnership or equity arrangement simply couldn’t access the technology, regardless of how well it fit their project.

This agreement shifts that dynamic, at least for Shell’s DMR solution. By making it available through Wison’s FLNG platform, the technology enters the open market, potentially expanding the pool of projects that are technically and commercially viable — particularly for developers who now have access to a proven solution they previously couldn’t reach.

Wison’s integrated delivery platform

The Wison–Shell collaboration marks a concrete shift in how Shell’s DMR liquefaction technology reaches the market. Previously limited to Shell-equity projects, it’s now accessible to a wider range of FLNG developers through Wison’s integrated delivery platform.

Shell Catalysts & Technologies will support Wison New Energies through pre-FEED, FEED, and EPC phases and will back the technology with process performance guarantees. Wison contributes EPCIC and O&M capabilities alongside advanced fabrication infrastructure.

For the FLNG sector, the practical effect is an expanded set of technology options — and a proven, scalable liquefaction solution now competing in a market it previously sat outside of.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.