Exxon Mobil Corporation announced plans to seek regulatory approval for BlueOcean Energy, a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal that will create a gateway to global supplies of clean-burning natural gas to help meet the growing energy needs of New Jersey and New York.
The project will have the capacity to supply about 1.2 billion cu. ft. of natural gas per day.
Anchored approximately 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey – and reportedly not visible from the shore – the more than $1 billion terminal will be far from shore and away from shipping lanes, ports and recreational areas.
"We believe that BlueOcean Energy is a unique and innovative solution to meeting the region's energy challenges," said Ron P. Billings, vice president,
Global LNG, ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company. "BlueOcean Energy will provide significant economic benefits to New Jersey and New York and will help the region achieve its environmental objectives."
The project will generate sizeable direct and indirect economic benefits through project spending, new jobs, taxes and additional natural gas.
Access to global supplies of natural gas can improve reliability, help reduce swings in natural gas prices and fuel future growth. The Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy studied the economic effects of these benefits to the State of New Jersey. Rutgers' detailed report, to be issued shortly, concludes that "the
proposed LNG terminal could have significant positive benefits for the New Jersey economy."
Safety and security will be paramount. BlueOcean Energy commissioned former New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer, a noted security expert and senior counsel to the 911 Commission, to conduct a safety and security assessment of the facility.
"BlueOcean Energy is developing a sound plan for a safe and secure facility," Farmer said.
The BlueOcean Energy floating terminal is designed to receive LNG supplies from double-hulled LNG ships about twice a week, and store the LNG in insulated tanks inside the terminal's double hull. The stored LNG will then be warmed to turn it back into natural gas for delivery to New Jersey and New York markets through a new subsea pipeline that will connect to new and existing onshore pipelines.
BlueOcean Energy is at the start of a lengthy and rigorous permitting process involving state and federal agencies, as well as the general public.
"Public consultation is a cornerstone of the permitting process, and we are committed to discussing the project with communities and other stakeholders," Billings said. "We look forward to working closely with state and federal officials, as well as with the U.S. Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, the agencies responsible for the review of the terminal plans under the Deepwater Port Act."
In addition to BlueOcean Energy, ExxonMobil is involved in three other terminal projects. Receiving terminals are under construction near Sabine Pass, Texas; in Wales in the United Kingdom; and offshore Italy in the Adriatic Sea. With several years required for permitting, engineering and construction, BlueOcean Energy is expected to begin service around the middle of the next decade.