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Royal Dutch Shell PLC says it has completed building the hull of the world’s largest floating facility, which has been constructed to process natural gas off the coast of western Australia.

[np_storybar title=”Asia LNG buyers come together in bid to secure lower prices” link=”http://business.financialpost.com/2013/12/03/asia-lng-buyers-come-together-in-bid-to-secure-lower-prices/?__lsa=8c54-2272″]An uncomfortable prospect for global exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will unfold this week — buyers from countries that import 70% of the world’s LNG will meet to discuss how to get a better deal. Keep reading. Keep reading.

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Shell said Tuesday that the 488-meter (1,600 foot) hull of the structure, known as “Prelude,” was floated out of the dry dock in Geoje, South Korea where it is being built.

With a bow and stern half a kilometre apart, four football pitches would fit on the vessel’s deck were it not for a clutter of kit towering up to 93 metres high that will take in the equivalent of 110,000 barrels of oil per day in natural gas and cool it into liquefied natural gas for transport and sale in Asia. It will float above gas fields.