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January 2017

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ISSN 1747-1826

CONTENTS JANUARY 2017

03 Comment 31 Make it fit


Dr Pl G. Bergan and Dr Daejun Chang, LATTICE Technology, Norway and
South Korea, present a new, flexible LNG pressure vessel that is capable of
05 LNG news being designed to fit a range of spaces.

35 Development history of the gas


10 A new era for Australian LNG engine
Bernadette Cullinane, Deloitte, Australia, reflects on a challenging Ren Sejer Laursen, MAN Diesel & Turbo, Denmark, looks at the development
2016 for the LNG industry and looks ahead to a record year for of dual-fuel engine technology.
LNG in Australia.
39 Small scale LNG loading solutions
Tom Toth, Connect LNG AS, presents a floating transfer system.

43 Storage in severe conditions


Julien Castres Saint Martin, VINCI Construction Grands Projets, France, and
Patrick Genoud, Entrepose Contracting, France, look at the safe delivery of
large LNG storage tanks in severe conditions, from Western Australia to
Northern Siberia.

47 Easing the stress


Wasim Younis, Symetri, UK, presents the benefits of adopting analysis early on
in the design stage within the LNG industry.

51 Automation for productivity and


10 forecast accuracy
Christian Sommerhoff, IWB, Germany, outlines automation considerations for
LNG distribution to trucks.

15 Monetising flare gas 56 15 facts ... on Australia


Franoise Sabatier and Helmut Steinacker, Linde Engineering Division,
Linde AG, Germany, introduce a BOG reliquefaction plant developed
for Petronas LNG complex in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia.

19 Back to basics
David Blanchard, Cryostar, France, explains how current market
conditions present an opportunity for small scale LNG.
ON THIS MONTHS C
COVER
23 Bigger is not always
ways better
Warren R. Miller and Fei Chen, Air Products
roducts and Chemicals Inc., USA,
explain why smaller plant capacitiess can sometimes equate to bigger
opportunities. 3D model rendition of the
planned LNG Limited 8 million tpy
26 A brighter future
re for LNG as ((or
or greater) project in La
Lake Charles,
L
Lou isiana, US. Currently s
Louisiana, shovel ready
a marine fuel having regulatory certaint
certainty (FERC
Martin Wold, DNV GL, Norway, outliness why interest in LNG
as a ship fuel is set to increase. and DOE approvals), cost ccertainty
(LSTK EPC signed with KBR KBR-led KSJV,
O&M contract with EthosEn
EthosEnergy),
industry-leading operational efficiency
with our patented OSMR liqu liquefaction
technology, and equity financing
nancin from
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners.
Partne ASX:
LNG & OTC ADR: LNGLY.

Copyright Palladian Publications Ltd 2017. All rights reserved. No part of


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the claims made in the articles or the advertisements. Printed in the UK.
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JOSEPH GREEN
EDITOR

COMMENT or many, 2016 will go down as one of the worst years

F in history. After a quick glance at the news, its hard


to disagree. Political turmoil, economic uncertainty
and a spate of celebrity deaths have dominated the
headlines over the last twelve months. Nevertheless, as we
limp, black-and-blue, into 2017, hope remains for a brighter
approximately 70% of east coast natural gas demand
by 2018. The reality of the situation is that the three
new plants will likely draw the majority of the natural
gas that would otherwise have been available to the
year ahead.
domestic market. A massive exploration and production
After a year fraught with challenges, Australian LNG
effort is required to boost output by enough to meet
also remains optimistic for a record year in 2017. A crucial
the demand of the LNG plants,2 otherwise Australia can
year for Oz, the country is set to become the worlds largest
expect to see a shortage sometime around 2019. AGL is
LNG exporter as multiple construction projects reach their
considering its options in light of these predictions.
conclusion. As production increases in tune with global
In this months issue, we feature a fascinating
supply, Australia will continue to face obstacles however, as
Regional Report from Deloittes Bernadette Cullinane,
it looks to cement its status as the leading figure in LNG
who investigates the LNG industry at large and looks
export; namely, weak demand and the subsequent oversupply
ahead to a crucial year for LNG in Australia. If you have
of the global market, coupled with forecasted price declines.
picked up a copy of LNG Industry at this years Australian
A hot topic towards the end of last year, the Australian
Oil & Gas Exhibition, be sure to let us know your
LNG market has generated much speculation. The majority
thoughts on one of the years most intriguing markets.
of 2017 forecasts have painted a mixed picture, whilst some
The New Year is often a time for resolution and
have ventured the once inconceivable. Recent reports have
change. That is the same for me as I take on the
suggested that despite the enormous spend on the push to
role of Editor at LNG Industry. I would like to thank
export gas, Australia may in fact be on the brink of importing
Callum OReilly for his continued words of wisdom and
it. Energy supplier AGL has announced that it may need to
guidance and we wish him well in his new role as Editor
spend up to AUS$300 million on an LNG import depot to
of our sister publication, Hydrocarbon Engineering.
shield itself from soaring gas prices and increasing difficulty
Moving forward, LNG Industry remains committed to
in finding local supplies. 1 There is method in the madness.
bringing you the highest quality technical articles and
Although no deal is yet in place, there is a strong possibility
thought-provoking pieces reflecting on the industry
that the cheaper solution for AGL will be to import gas from
worldwide. This will no doubt be a pivotal year for LNG,
any number of low-cost producers around the world, rather
and we will endeavour to cover every angle of what is
than utilise its reserves at home.
hopefully a brighter 2017.
Whilst it seems an extraordinary move, AGL is reacting to
economic realities. As reports discuss, the building of three 1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-24/having-spent-
new LNG plants in Queensland state ... has dramatically 200b-to-export-lng-is-australia-about-to-import/8055164
altered the supply-demand balance along the eastern 2. http://uk.reuters.com/article/column-russell-lng-australia-
seaboard. According to AGL, the three plants will account for idUKL4N1DM1XQ

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LNGNEWS
Malaysia The Netherlands
First LNG produced from Gate Terminal celebrates
PFLNG SATU opening new LNG facilities
etronas has announced that the first LNG has been longside shareholders Gasunie and Vopak, and partners
P produced from its floating LNG (FLNG) facility,
PFLNG SATU.
A Shell and the Port of Rotterdam, Gate Terminal has
celebrated the expansion of the LNG terminal at the
The operational milestone marks a decade long journey Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
for Petronas since conceptualising a FLNG facility to The terminal now features a third berth, as well as new
maximise the potential of remote and stranded gas reserves. infrastructure for loading small LNG vessels. These vessels
PFLNG SATU, which operates at water depths between 70 m will enable distribution to LNG terminals in other North Sea
and 200 m, has a processing capacity of 1.2 million tpy. and Baltic ports where LNG tankers are prohibited from
Petronas Acting Vice President LNG Assets, Development delivering because of their draught. In conjunction with LNG
& Production, Adnan Zainal Abidin said: At 365 m long and bunker vessels, the third berth will also make it easier for
with 22 modular systems, PFLNG SATU is an engineering ocean-going vessels to be loaded with LNG in Rotterdam.
marvel that brings together the liquefaction, production, To celebrate the occasion, 400 guests were invited to
storage and offloading processes of LNG to the offshore gas a networking event, which included a mini-symposium in
field. We have successfully stretched the limits of our abilities which several experts shared experiences and developments
with floating LNG technology to maintain our technical edge regarding the use of LNG as marine fuel.
as a key LNG supplier. Allard Castelein, CEO, Port of Rotterdam Authority, said:
On 14 November 2016, PFLNG SATU reached its final The Port of Rotterdam Authority highly values a more
stages of commissioning and start-up with the introduction sustainable transport sector. As a result of cooperation with
of gas from the KAKG-A central processing platform at the many parties we lead the way in this transition, Rotterdam is
Kanowit gas field. Petronas expects its FLNG facility to lift its the LNG hub of Europe. A new facility as the third berth is a
first cargo and achieve commercial operations in the 1Q17. good example of what you can achieve together.

Canada
Bear Paw receives EA approval for natural gas pipeline
NG Limited has announced that its indirect wholly owned is an important regulatory component that furthers our
L subsidiary, Bear Paw Pipeline Corp. Inc., has received
environmental assessment (EA) approval from Nova Scotia
goal to be the leader in helping Nova Scotia realise
the LNG opportunity that will benefit the province and
Environment for its natural gas pipeline. community.
Bear Paw is proposing to build and operate a Bear Paws pipeline is integral to the development of
pipeline that will stretch 62.5 km from Goldboro to the Bear Head LNG. We are putting all the elements in place
proposed Bear Head LNG export facility in Point Tupper, to develop a successful LNG export facility on Cape Breton
Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Goldboro to Island and the pipeline is a strategic and critical element.
Point Tupper pipeline connects Bear Head LNG to the Bear Head LNGs focus is to provide access to overseas
North American natural gas pipeline network. LNG Limited markets for North Americas natural gas resources on
claims that expenditures for the construction of the pipeline competitive economics.
will only commence following the financial close of the Bear Head LNG is uniquely positioned to provide
Bear Head LNG project. liquefaction services to Western Canadian, Northeast US, and
Greg Vesey, The Managing Director and CEO of offshore Nova Scotia resource owners desiring to sell natural
LNG Limited, said: The environmental assessment approval gas to the global LNG market.

January 2017 5
LNGNEWS
Lithuania South Korea
Skangas signs LNG reload GTT technology to be
agreement with Statoil used on vessel ordered by
kangas has announced that it has signed an agreement with Gaslog
S Norways Statoil for a small scale LNG reload operation at the
Klaipeda LNG terminal in Lithuania. aztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has announced
At the time of writing, the reload was set to take place in early G that its Mark V technology will be used to equip a
new LNG carrier ordered by Gaslog. The vessel will be
January 2017, becoming the first reload carried out at the terminal,
and marking the first time that Skangas has sourced LNG from constructed at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard
Statoil. in Geoje Island, South Korea, with delivery scheduled for
Skangas sees this latest agreement as the next step towards 2019.
increasing support for the development of the small scale market The Chairman and CEO of GTT, Philippe Berterottire,
in Northern Europe. said: Gaslogs choice of our new membrane containment
Tor Morten Osmundsen, the CEO of Skangas, said: We see this system highlights the confidence of our partners in our
latest agreement as a confirmation of the two companies common innovations.
interest to promote LNG in order to continuously develop the We are constantly striving to enhance the
small scale LNG market. performances of our systems. This first order of Mark V
Both companies have already concluded other agreements as shows our ability to meet market requirements.
part of their business relationship. These include feed gas to the Mark V technology reduces the guaranteed daily
Skangas LNG plant in Risavika, Norway, as well as a bunker supply boil-off rate of LNG to 0.07% of the tank volume
agreement to the platform supply vessels delivered from several per day. It also optimises the dynamic insulation
bases in Norway, including possible ship-to-ship (STS) transfer. resistance.

News Highlights

X US to become net energy


exporter
X Indian government ofcials seek zero
import tax on LNG
X Asia is the biggest US LNG buyer

Visit our website for more news: www.lngindustry.com


6 January 2017
France
LNGNEWS Turkey
Dunkirk regasification Inauguration of the first
terminal starts commercial floating LNG import
operations terminal in Turkey
DF has announced that commercial operations have started n 23 December, ENGIE and the Turkish construction
E up at the Dunkirk regasification terminal in France.
The terminal is the second largest in mainland Europe, and
O companies Kolin and Kalyon inaugurated the ETKI LNG
terminal.
is the only one that is directly connected to two consumption The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of
markets (France and Belgium). It has a regasification capacity President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and
of 13 billion m3/yr, which accounts for over 20% of French and Minister of Energy Berat Albayrak.
Belgian natural gas consumption. ENGIE was selected by project developers Kolin and Kalyon
The terminal is composed of a jetty, three 200 000 m3 to deliver this fast-track floating storage and regasification unit
isothermal LNG storage tanks, and a regasification unit. The (FSRU) based solution. The group committed the Neptune, one of
jetty is capable of receiving up to 150 tankers per year, from the two FSRUs of its fleet, to the project.
low-capacity tankers (65 000 m3) to the largest LNG tankers The 145 000 m3 capacity vessel will act as an LNG receiving
in the world (Q-Max tankers with a capacity of 267 000 m3). and storage facility and will deliver natural gas in gaseous form.
Five articulated arms are installed to unload the ships at a The overall infrastructure developed by Kolin and Kalyon includes
maximum flowrate of 14 000 m3/hr. The regasification unit a jetty and an onshore gas pipeline to connect the terminal to
consists of 10 heat exchangers, supplied with tepid water by the national gas transport grid, operated by BOTAS. From final
the neighbouring nuclear power plant in Gravelines with an investment decision (FID) to completion, record breaking terminal
underwater 5 km tunnel. project development took only 6.5 months.
The Executive Director of the EDF Group, in charge of The Neptune vessel arrived at ETKI LNG terminal berth on
the Gas Sector and Italy, Marc Benayoun, said: I am delighted 11 December fully loaded with LNG and proceeded immediately
that commercial operations have started up at the Dunkirk with commissioning operations.
regasification terminal, thus creating a new point of gas The rationale of the FRSU-based solution chosen by Kolin
importation in France and strengthening security of supply in and Kalyon lays in its flexibility, cost-effectiveness and speed of
Europe. It also contributes to the development of the gas supply implementation. With a capacity of up to 20 million m3/d of gas
market, on which the Group already operates with its Italian send-out, the new ETKI LNG Terminal will be a key contributor
subsidiary, Edison, and wishes to further strengthen its share. I to Turkeys natural gas security of supply, especially in the winter
would especially like to thank the EDF, partners and contractors period. It will complement Turkeys two existing onshore LNG
teams who have worked together since 2012 to complete this terminals, thus enhancing the countrys diversification of gas
strategic asset. import structures as well as supply sources.

23 - 25 January 2017 14 - 16 February 2017 23 - 24 February 2017


European Gas Conference 2017 CWC Iran LNG & Gas LNG Summit United States
Vienna, Austria Partnerships Summit Houston, US
www.europeangas-conference.com Frankfurt, Germany www.lng-usa.com
www.iranlngandgas.com

13 - 14 February 2017 22 - 24 February 2017 04 - 07 April 2017


Floating LNG Australasian Oil & Gas (AOG) Gastech
London, UK Perth, Australia Chiba, Tokyo, Japan
www.floating-lng.co.uk www.aogexpo.com.au www.gastechevent.com

8 January 2017
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A new era for
Australian LNG
Bernadette Cullinane, Deloitte,
Australia, reflects on a challenging
2016 for the LNG industry and
looks ahead to a record year for
LNG in Australia.

10
ith the rapid growth in global LNG trade, and the final phases of multiple

W Australian LNG construction projects drawing to a close in 2017, Australia is on


track to become the worlds largest LNG exporter. Seven LNG projects are all set
to add in excess of 60 million tpy capacity, effectively doubling total gas production and
tripling Australias gas export capacity.
LNG will overtake coal as Australias second biggest export earner by 2018 and
become a critical growth driver for the countrys economy. According to modelling by
the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), LNG exports will add approximately 0.75 of a
percentage point to GDP within 18 months, that is one-fifth of the 3.5% growth that
the Treasury predicts will occur in that year.1 After years of planning and an often
fraught capital intensive construction phase, LNG in Australia is now entering an
exciting new era.
This article reflects on the trends that emerged in 2016 and provides some
thoughts about the future.

11
Global LNG supply increasing market will peak at approximately 70 million tpy in 2019
massively before returning to balance by 2023.2
Most of the new LNG supply expected in the next five years Seven years is a long time for a dynamic, rapidly
will come from Australia and the US. After several years evolving market like LNG to be in oversupply mode.
of limited growth in new liquefaction capacity driven by a Disruptive forces will abound and there may be more
lapse in final investment decisions (FIDs) for new greenfield examples of LNG buyers breaking long-term supply
projects, as well as delays faced by those projects under contracts. As LNG markets mature and become more
construction, there is a huge amount of new supply entering sophisticated, more flexibility will be built into supply
the LNG market. Approximately 135 million tpy of new LNG contracts. If the supply overhang persists, there is also
capacity is currently being built, 74% of this in two countries likely to be a curtailment of existing, uncontracted
Australia and the US. Along with the US first LNG exports capacity. Those LNG projects with high ongoing CAPEX
from trains at Sabine Pass, more than 40 million tpy of that commitments and low operating breakeven are most at
volume was set to be commissioned by the end of 2016, risk of getting shelved.
across Australia, Malaysia, and Angola.
More choices for buyers
Australian production is ramping With the US shipping its first LNG cargoes in February 2016
up and on track to potentially export 60 million tpy of LNG by
It has been a long time in the planning and construction, 2020, representing approximately 20% of global supply, Asian
but Australias LNG mega-projects are finally entering buyers have much greater supply options than in the past. As
the all-important production phase. Kicked off by the a result, the balance of power in contract negotiations has
Queensland Curtis LNG project at the start of 2015, the shifted with buyers more able to dictate terms. Australian
second half of the year saw the project reach full production LNG producers are expected to face lower prices when they
from both trains. Subsequently, there were first exports renegotiate long-term deals with Asian utilities, with new
from Santos Gladstone LNG (GLNG) project in October 2015, sources of supply, including US exports, giving buyers an
Origin Energys Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) in January 2016, advantage in contract talks. Asian buyers are also delaying
and Gorgon LNG in March 2016. signing new long-term supply contracts, mindful of the
However, other projects are limping to the finish line growing supply volumes in the global market.
as project delays remain a big supply theme. The LNG
industry has long struggled to deliver new projects on Subdued near-term outlook for
schedule. Fatigued by productivity challenges and cost LNG pricing
overruns, the last of the LNG projects under construction Operators of LNG projects without the security of locked-in
are struggling to get over the finish line. long-term (20 years) offtake should look away now. LNG
Despite these challenges, Australia is on track to have prices (using landed Japan as the benchmark) are forecast to
10 operating LNG projects by 2019 2020. This massive decline over the outlook period due to the lower oil prices,
ramp up in capacity translates to over 84 million tpy in a deterioration in the global gas supply/demand balance
export capacity by 2019 2020, above Qatar and and the shift towards spot-based contracts. Greater supply
positioning Australia as the worlds number one LNG options and a more liquid, transparent spot market will give
exporter. As a result of this ramp up, Australia will gas buyers more power in contract negotiations. With finance
experience a huge exports boost. options limited, it is a tough environment for early stage LNG
projects to get off the ground.
The haves and the have nots Despite the uncertain near-term demand outlook and a
With so many major LNG export projects coming online weak gas pricing backdrop, global LNG supply keeps
simultaneously, ensuring there are sufficient feedstock increasing. Investment bank Morgan Stanley estimates
gas reserves is critically important. A rapid increase in gas global LNG supply growing at a 9% CAGR over the period
production can be expected over the next few years, to 2015 2020.3 That equates to over 140 million tpy of new
support Australias burgeoning LNG industry. liquefaction capacity scheduled to come online during the
LNG is an industry where access to low cost reserves next five years. Presenting at LNG18 in Perth, Australia, in
and the security of long-term contracted sales volumes April 2016, Wood Mackenzie talked of 30 LNG trains to be
makes all the difference. Those LNG project operators with added by 2020.4 That is an LNG train every eight weeks
access to low cost gas and/or already signed contracts will and represents a 50% increase in LNG supply in just
enjoy a competitive advantage as they can profitably five years. Much of this increased capacity will come from
navigate the current market and build growth until prices Australia and the US. Supply competition is increasing and
recover by 2020. Operators without a ready supply of low the next decade will see more low-cost supply options.
cost feedstock gas and/or without the security of
long-term gas supply contracts look vulnerable. Proposed Australian LNG projects
Several of the less advanced Australian projects under
Global market to remain proposal have been discussed for years. All of these projects
oversupplied have their own complex issues (project partners, politics,
Based on forecast LNG supply from existing projects and market, resources, etc.) and have been beset by delays,
those under construction, together with weak LNG demand controversies and challenges. It is unlikely that any new LNG
forecasts, Macquarie estimates excess supply in the global projects will be sanctioned in the current climate.

12 January 2017
Australian LNG projects at the An uncertain future for FLNG
top of the cost curve Described as a true breakthrough technology a few years ago,
The economics of new LNG projects look even less attractive the current assessment of the floating LNG (FLNG) technology
in light of Australias high cost base and labour issues. is uncertain. Questions are being asked about whether FLNG
Being an expensive place to do business is a particularly technology will live up to its hype after the decision by
big problem for capital intensive infrastructure projects in a Woodsides Browse gas venture to freeze work was followed
challenging commodity pricing cycle. According to JP Morgans by the axing of a floating design for the Abadi gas field in
cost estimates, the majority of Australian LNG projects occupy Indonesia. Other Australian FLNG ventures have been sensitive
the upper end of the cost curve.5 Project owners are guiding to cost and price issues. It remains to be seen whether FLNG
mid to single-digit returns at current oil prices. Consensus will be the way forward for new projects, or an option with
amongst industry analysts is new LNG projects need to return limitations as well as advantages.
an over 10% internal rate of return (IRR) at under US$60/boe
to have any chance of being commissioned. Looking forward to 2017
While 2016 was certainly a year filled with challenges, the
The market is slowly but surely positives will outweigh the negatives in the long run, and 2017
switching to spot trades is set to be a record year for LNG in Australia.
Goldman Sachs noted in 2016 that spot purchases in
recent years have been cheaper than cargoes bought under
long-term deals.6 Spot trades were forecast to cost 31% less
References
1. CASSIDY, N. and KOSEV, M., Australia and the Global LNG
than contract purchases in 2016. This is an alarming trend Market, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), (2015), http://www.
for Australian LNG producers as long-term contracts roll off. rba.gov.au/publications/bulletin/2015/mar/pdf/bu-0315-4.pdf.
Certainly, the days of a few large players exerting oligopoly 2. MEYER, J., LNGs hammer blow to thermal coal, The Sydney
style pricing power are well and truly over. Morning Herald, (24 February 2016), http://www.smh.com.au/
business/energy/lngs-hammer-blow-to-thermal-coal-20160223-
The next few years promises to see the share of gn1cod.html
uncontracted LNG volumes increase further with 3. Morgan Stanley analyst note, Shipping and LNG Market
aggregators/traders playing a bigger role to clear the market. Outlook, (4 May 2016).
What is more, thanks to greatly reduced LNG pricing, margins 4. The rise of the LNG portfolio player, Wood Mackenzie,
are much thinner in the industry, reducing opportunity for (20 April 2016), https://www.woodmac.com/analysis/video-the-
rise-of-the-LNG-portfolio-player
profitable inter-basin trade (i.e. trade between Pacific and
5. JP Morgan analyst note, Global LNG, (1 October 2015).
Atlantic basins).
6. PATON, J., LNG Golden Promise Fading for Goldman on Wave
There is also likely to be an emergence of spot trading
of Oversupply, Bloomberg, (5 November 2015), https://www.
exchanges, such as the newly announced GLX LNG cargo bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-05/goldman-says-lng-
trading platform. buyers-may-break-term-contracts-for-spot-deals
THAT WAS A SAMPLE OF

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