Forbes: Next Wave Of U.S. LNG Projects Lurks But Market Fistfight Is Inevitable

Weighing the United State’s LNG boon against an increasingly competitive global market, Forbes delivers a quiet warning - burgeoning production capacity does not guarantee the market’s success. The numerous pending American LNG plant projects awaiting environmental permits final investment decisions are far from secure:

“The entry of the U.S. as a marginal producer has changed the game. But it’s easy to get caught up in the market euphoria and forget that U.S. exporters are not the only game in town. American exports are (and will be) toughing it out with Australian and Qatari exports. It’s extremely challenging to get long-term high volume offtake agreements to support the construction of these facilities.”

— David Lang, law firm Baker McKenzie's Global Head of LNG

FERC Issues Environmental Schedules for 12 LNG Terminal Applications

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on August 31, 2018 issued a news release highlighting the approval of environmental schedules for the following 12 outstanding LNG terminal applications: Freeport Train 4, Port Arthur, Driftwood LNG, Corpus Christi, Texas LNG, Gulf LNG, Rio Grande LNG, Jacksonville Eagle, Annova LNG, Plaquemines, Jordan Cove, and Alaska LNG. 

“Thanks to the tremendous work of our Office of Energy Projects and Office of the General Counsel, the Commission has made significant strides in streamlining our regulatory processes to adapt to the increasing number, and greater complexity, of the LNG applications we have received. These process improvements have shortened projected environmental schedules in some cases by 9 to 12 months. There is widespread acknowledgement that the United States is poised to play an important role in serving worldwide LNG demand, and its ability to serve that demand quickly will serve the nation’s national security and economic interests. Because sufficient LNG export capacity is a necessary gateway to the global gas markets, the FERC’s efficient processing of LNG facility applications will put the US in a more competitive position.

-FERC Chairman Kevin McIntyre.”

Tellurian's Driftwood LNG: On Track for 1-H 2019

Via: lngworldnews.com |Original Source: Tellurian

“All the pieces of the integrated project are coming together as planned, and we remain on schedule to announce our partners in the third or fourth quarter, begin construction of Driftwood LNG in first half 2019, and deliver LNG to the global market in 2023.”

— Meg Gentle, CEO Tellurian

Cheniere & Tellurian Release Corporate Reports

Cheniere Energy, Inc. - owner and operator of the Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG projects - and Tellurian Inc. - of the upcoming Driftwood LNG project - released corporate reports this week:

Forecasting growing global demand for American gas, the juggernauts are investing heavily to build LNG infrastructure. Tellurian reports it is on track to reach its final investment decision (FID) on Driftwood 1-H 2019.

WSJ: "Don't Get Complacent About Natural Gas."

American underground natural gas reserves are reported to sit some 24% lower year-over-year and 20% lower than the five year average this August. The Wall Street Journal warns these conditions could foreshadow a winter of strained supply and ballooning prices.

The market's hubris is to blame, the author implies:

“The main reason traders are so sanguine is that the U.S. has been in a natural-gas glut for the past decade.”

The ongoing natural gas surplus might turn out to be short-lived, after all.

Gladstone & Adriatic LNG Milestones

Gladstone LNG (operational since 2015) shipped its 200th cargo as Adriatic LNG (since 2009) received its 600th this June. Gladstone – a liquefaction plant –  and Adriatic – a regasification plant – both rely on Gas Land’s Nitrogen Generators.