US natgas exports to LNG plants are on track to reach a 9-month high
According to data provided by financial firm LSEG, the amount of gas going to seven large U.S. liquefied gas export plants is on track to reach a new nine-month record on Thursday. This was due to feedgas reaching multi-week records at a few plants. Energy market is concerned about feedgas flow to U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas plants, because in recent years exports were the largest source of growth for the gas industry. In 2023, the U.S. will be the largest LNG exporter in the world, surpassing Australia and Qatar.
Sempra Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 is ahead of Cameron LNG, according to CFO
Karen Sedgwick, Sempra Infrastructure’s finance chief, said that the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project is ahead of Cameron LNG expansion. Sedgwick informed investors in a conference call that the Port Arthur project is moving faster because of a construction agreement that spans both phases with Bechtel. Port Arthur Phase 2 may receive its non-Free Trade Agreement Export Permit early next year, and the company can make a financial determination by the second quarter in 2025. Since signing a 20-year contract, the company has seen better terms.
The price of gas in Europe has reversed its initial gains and is now lower than the oil prices.
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas reversed gains earlier on Tuesday afternoon. They fell in line with the oil price and offset initial concerns about rising demand due to cooler weather conditions and U.S. liquefied gas supplies. LSEG data shows that the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF Hub was down 1.75 euros to 35.40 euros or $11.43/mmBtu by 1502 GMT. It had reached a high of 37.90 Euros/MWh earlier in the day. The day-ahead contract on the British market fell 4 pence, to 85.00 p/therm. It had traded as high at 90.75 pence per thermo in the morning.
Prices of EUROPE GAS rise on demand and tight supply
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas extended their previous session's gains Tuesday. This was due to the rising demand for gas from cooler weather, the ongoing Norwegian supply restrictions, and fears that a hurricane could impact the U.S. liquefied gas supply. LSEG data shows that the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub rose by 0.60 euro to 37.75 euros per Megawatt Hour, or 12.19/mmBtu by 0802 GMT. On the British market, the day-ahead contracts gained 1,50 pence each to 90.50 cents per therm.
Ineos Inks 20-year LNG Deal with Sempra Infrastructure
Britain's INEOS Energy, part of INEOS Group, has signed an agreement with U.S. firm Sempra Infrastructure for the supply of 1.4 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from North America for 20 years, it said on Wednesday.It marks INEOS's entry into the global LNG market, with the volumes intended both for trading and supplying of INEOS' own industrial needs in Europe.The LNG will be delivered free-on-board, from either the proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project or the Cameron LNG Phase 2 projects in the U.S.
US Energy Exports Severely Disrupted by Hurricane Laura
Oil and gas exports from the United States have been severely disrupted by Hurricane Laura, with nearly a million barrels per day (bpd) of crude exports likely reduced this week by closures of U.S. Gulf Coast terminals and disruptions at ports.The hurricane also temporarily suspended operations at several liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in the world’s third largest exporter of the super-cooled gas, with shipments on track to fall to their lowest in 18 months.Laura made landfall early Thursday near the Texas-Louisiana border…
US LNG Loading Delays Expected as Hurricane Slams Gulf Coast
Loadings of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from the United States likely will be delayed as a powerful storm strikes the heart of the U.S. oil and gas industry on the Gulf Coast, forcing several LNG plants to shut.Hurricane Laura made landfall early on Thursday in southwestern Louisiana as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the state, with forecasters warning it could push a wall of water 40 miles (64 km) inland from the sea. Landfall came near Louisiana's border with Texas.Trading…
US LNG Exports at 20-month Low
Natural gas flows to U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants plunged this month after falling to a 20-month low in June as coronavirus lockdowns cut global demand for the fuel.Before the pandemic slashed energy demand, U.S. producers counted on LNG exports to keep growing fast as an outlet for their record gas output. But after soaring 68% in 2019 and 53% in 2018, U.S. LNG exports were only expected to rise about 7% in 2020.Gas pipeline flows to U.S. LNG export plants dropped to an average…
Virus Lockdowns Pummel Global Gas Demand, Force LNG Output Cuts
Lockdowns to slow the coronavirus pandemic are pummelling gas demand in the world's biggest buyers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), pushing Asia's spot prices to record lows and forcing some suppliers to start cutting output. Economies worldwide have ground to a halt as virus containment measures have taken their toll, slashing gas demand for power generation, heating, cooking, vehicles and chemical manufacture. The world's biggest LNG markets - Japan, China, South Korea, and India - are all seeing a drop in demand.
Tankers Carrying U.S. LNG Heading to China After Tax Waivers Granted
Tankers carrying U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) are on their way to China after Beijing started granting tax waivers to some importers, according to shipping and trade sources.This is the first time since March 2019 that shipments have resumed after a long-standing trade war that saw China raise tariffs on LNG imports from the United States to 25% last year.Four LNG tankers are currently en route to China after loading cargoes last month in the United States, ship-tracking data from Refinitiv and data intelligence firm Kpler showed.The tankers are expected to arrive in China between late April and early May…
Sempra to Decide on U.S., Mexican LNG Export Plants in 2020
California energy company Sempra Energy said on Thursday it expects to make final investment decisions (FID) this year to build two new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants - one in the United States and one in Mexico:Sempra said it plans to make FIDs on the first phase of the Costa Azul export plant in Baja California in Mexico in the first quarter and the Port Arthur export plant in Texas in the third quarter.At Costa Azul, Sempra has said Energia Costa Azul LNG has non-binding 20-year agreements…
Australia Becomes World's Largest LNG Exporter
Australia has become the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in the world. The record figure knocked Qatar out of the top spot."Australia is set to become the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter this year, overtaking Qatar, with its supplies expected to reach 81 million tonnes (MT) as Ichthys LNG and Prelude FLNG increase production," Rystad Energy said.Meanwhile, Qatari exports will remain at current levels, around 77 MT. The US will increase LNG exports from about 36 MT in 2019 to 56 MT in 2020, dominating new LNG supply contributions.
Europe Dominates LNG Import Story in 2019
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) production jumped in 2019, triggering oversupply and low prices that are expected to persist in 2020. Initial full-year data from LNG Edge shows exports at 355 million tonnes in 2019, up from 314.9 million tonnes in 2018.This represents the largest ever increase in production.While East Asian, especially Chinese, demand increased in 2017 and 2018 to absorb additional production, there was little change this year. Instead, supply pushed into Europe reached a record high…
Louisiana LNG Unit Starts Production
Train 2 of the Cameron LNG project in Hackberry, Louisiana, has begun producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), announced McDermott International and its joint venture partner, Chiyoda International Corporation, a U.S.-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiyoda Corporation, Japan.While production is in the initial phases, this significant project accomplishment is a precursor to substantial completion of Train 2."This accomplishment is attributable to the entire team's unwavering commitment to project delivery and steadfast focus on safety and quality performance as we work toward completion of Train 2…
Mitsui, Sempra Energy Sign LNG Deal
North American energy infrastructure company Sempra Energy and Japanese trader Mitsui & Co. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the latter would take part in the Cameron LNG Phase 2 project in Louisiana.The MoU also encompasses a future expansion of the Energía Costa Azul (ECA) LNG project in Baja California, Mexico."This agreement signals continued momentum in the growing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export market, while reinforcing the unique competitive advantage that Sempra offers customers seeking LNG export capabilities from the Gulf Coast…
Cameron LNG Begins Commercial Service
North American energy infrastructure company Sempra Energy said that the first train of the Cameron liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction export project in Louisiana has started commercial operations under Cameron's tolling agreements.Train 1 is part of Phase 1 of the Cameron LNG liquefaction export project which includes a projected export capacity of 12M metric tons/year of liquefied natural gas, or 1.7B cf/day of natural gas."This is an exciting moment for Cameron LNG and for Sempra Energy," said Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, chairman and CEO of Sempra North American Infrastructure.
McDermott-Chiyoda Sign Cameron LNG Deal
American multinational company McDermott International and its joint venture member Chiyoda have reached an agreement with Cameron LNG related to the construction of its LNG liquefaction project in Louisiana.McDermott and Chiyoda are providing the engineering, procurement and construction for the first three liquefaction trains at the Cameron LNG export project.Cameron LNG is jointly owned by affiliates of Sempra LNG, Total, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and Japan LNG Investment, LLC, a company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK).Sempra Energy indirectly owns 50.2% of Cameron LNG.
Total Takes Over Toshiba's U.S. LNG Biz
French energy giant Total takes over the liquefied natural gas business of Japanese outfit Toshiba's Freeport LNG train tolling agreement and gains $800 million.The French oil and gas company will is paying $15 million for the shares in the Texan assets, the firms said. Toshiba will also pay Total $815 million to take over all the contracts linked to the business, Total added."It includes a 20-year tolling agreement for 2.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of LNG from Freeport LNG train 3 in Texas and the corresponding gas transportation agreements on the pipelines feeding the terminal.
Cameron LNG Begins Production
The Cameron LNG project has achieved first liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from train 1. The project will begin exports in the coming weeks.The project is operated by Cameron LNG LLC jointly owned by Sempra Energy (50.2%), Total (16.6%), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (16.6%) and Mitsubishi/NYK (16.6%). NYK participates through Japan LNG Investments LLC (JLI), an NYK–Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) joint venture.NYK said in a press release that the Project will produce 12 million tons of LNG per annum through three liquefaction trains.This first batch of LNG was produced by the first liquefaction train.
Feed Gas Introduced at Cameron LNG
Cameron LNG has begun pipeline feed gas flow to the first liquefaction train of the liquefaction-export project as it prepares to begin production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the facility in Hackberry, La., according to partners involved in the project. This is the final commissioning step for Train 1 of Cameron LNG Phase 1."We expect to start producing LNG this quarter," said Lisa Glatch, chief operating officer of Sempra LNG and board chair for Cameron LNG.Cameron LNG is jointly owned by affiliates of Sempra LNG LLC, Total, Mitsui & Co. Ltd.