Shale Gas Revolution News

U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China, Japan, and South Korea, the biggest importers of the fuel, have surged to record highs in recent months as the heavily industrialized region recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, Eikon trade data shows.As with the ramp-up of U.S. oil exports that forced heavyweights like Saudi Arabia to find other buyers, what was dubbed Freedom Gas by the administration of President Donald Trump is also changing global energy flows and quietly gaining a stranglehold on key markets in Asia.Such is the speed of growth of imports into Japan, the U.S.

MISC Berhad (MISC) has taken delivery of the world's largest very large ethane carrier (VLEC) at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard in Geoje, South Korea.The newbuild 98,000 cubic meter capacity Seri Everest, MISC's first VLEC, is the lead vessel in a series of six that the shipowner purchased from Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical (STL) in July 2020. Concurrently, MISC had also entered into time charter parties (TCPs) with STL, for the six VLECs to operate in international waters.

The United States turned into a net natural gas exporter for a day after the first liquefied natural gas export from Cheniere Energy Inc's Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana left for Brazil on Wednesday. The United States however is not expected to become a net exporter of gas on an annual basis until 2017 after more pipelines to Mexico and LNG export terminals enter service, according to federal energy estimates. The United States was last a net exporter of gas on an annual basis in 1957. On Wednesday, the United States imported a net 4.8 billion cubic feet of gas per day from Canada and 0.2 bcfd from various LNG import terminals for a total of about 5 bcfd in imports.

The United States has exported its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the lower 48 states, after a tanker set sail from Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana. The Asia Vision LNG tanker left the dock at the Sabine Pass terminal at 0139 GMT (7.39 p.m. on Wednesday local time), shipping data on Reuters showed. Expected to become an importer of LNG just a decade ago, the shale gas revolution in the United States unlocked cheap, abundant gas supplies, allowing the country to become an exporter instead. The first U.S. exports come just days before production begins at the Chevron Corp-led Gorgon LNG project in Australia…

Asia Vision LNG tanker docks at Cheniere's export terminal. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker on Sunday docked at the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, with only days to go before the United States ships its first export cargo of seaborne gas from the lower 48 states. U.S. exports will add to a wave of supply coming from Australian projects at a time when demand falters in major consuming countries and prices have plummeted in line with oil. Expected to become an importer of LNG until just a few years ago, the shale gas revolution in the United States that unlocked cheap, abundant supplies has wreaked havoc on global gas markets as LNG meant for the country was redirected around the world.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), announced it has received an order from Astomos Energy Corporation for a very large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier. The order marks the very first to be received by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding since the company's launch on October 1. The LPG carrier on order is identical to the four vessels Astomos Energy has already ordered to MHI since 2013. According to the builder, the ship will provide a high level of energy-saving performance, flexibility to accommodate major LPG terminals around the globe and specifications suited to passage through the newly expanding Panama Canal. Completion and delivery are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) informs it has received orders for the construction of two next-generation liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers that will primarily carry shale gas produced in North America. The shipbuilding contracts, received through MI LNG Company, Limited, a joint venture between MHI and Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., will see the delivery of one LNG carrier each for two separate joint ventures which Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. has established with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), respectively. The vessels will be built at MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery and are both scheduled for completion and delivery in 2018 when they will commence transporting shale gas produced in North America…

At Norshipping in Oslo, Wärtsilä introduced the Wärtsilä 31, self-described by the company as a transcendent power plant in terms of fuel efficiency and economy, a claim validated by the Guinness World Records which has stamped it as the most efficient four-stroke diesel engine in the world. Björn Rosengren, President and CEO of Wärtsilä, sat with Maritime Reporter to lend perspective and insight to this development and the maritime market as a whole. Wärtsilä President & CEO Björn Rosengren was beaming at the introduction of the Wärtsilä 31 to the world at last month’s Norshipping…

Capital expenditure (Capex) on global liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities is expected to total $259 billion over the forecast period 2015-2019, according to the new ninth edition of Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) World LNG Market Forecast 2015-2019, which predicts investments to be 88% larger than during the previous five-year period. Report author, Amanda Tay, commented, “Global LNG Capex witnessed a slowdown in the period 2009 through to 2012, as a result of the global recession. Post-2012, alongside stronger confidence in the global economy and a growing appetite for energy, the industry started picking up and has piqued investors’ interest in LNG projects again.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., today announced the delivery of the LNG carrier Papua by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (Hudong) on January 30. The Papua is the first in a series of four ships to be built by Hudong to provide LNG transportation for the PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea and the Gorgon Jansz LNG project in Australia. MOL will operate the Papua under a long-term charter contract for the PNG LNG project operated by ExxonMobil. In January 2011, MOL assigned technical experts to the shipyard in China and created a shipbuilding supervision team made up of multinational staff, mostly Chinese and Japanese, to ensure the safe and high-quality construction of these LNG carriers.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) reports it has received an order for two next-generation LNG (liquefied natural gas) carriers from Mitsui & Co., Ltd., scheduled for completion and delivery in 2018 and 2019, respectively. They will be put into service for the Cameron LNG Project underway in the United States, an initiative in which Mitsui is participating, marking the first order placed to MHI for LNG carriers to transport shale gas. The order for the two LNG carriers was received through MI LNG Company, Limited, a joint venture between MHI and Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The vessels will be constructed at MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works.

Capital expenditure (Capex) on global liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities is expected to total $259 billion over the forecast period 2015-2019, according to the new ninth edition of Douglas-Westwood’s (DW) World LNG Market Forecast 2015-2019, which predicts investments to be 88% larger than during the previous five-year period. Report author, Amanda Tay, commented, “Global LNG Capex witnessed a slowdown in the period 2009 through to 2012, as a result of the global recession. Post-2012, alongside stronger confidence in the global economy and a growing appetite for energy, the industry started picking up and has piqued investors’ interest in LNG projects again.

The shipping industry is fully committed to total compliance with the 0.1% sulphur in fuel requirements, in Emission Control Areas, from January 2015. And there is no reason to suggest that there will not be full compliance, says the industry’s global trade association, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). “But there is nevertheless concern amongst those owners who know that they themselves will comply but who may worry about their competitors” said ICS Director of Policy & External Relations…

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES), foreseeing the effects of the shale gas revolution to maritime industries, has been developing new type medium size multi gas carrier for sea transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and co-product of shale gas such as ethane and ethylene gas (LEG). In the coming decade, LNG carriers (LNGC) may probably be classified into large scale LNGC and medium scale LNGC centering on the hub ports over the world, the builder said. Meanwhile, LEG carriers (LEGC), which have been usually small ones, are expected to shift to larger LEGCs, which are comparable with medium scale LNGC in terms of the capacity, MES added.

The United States is preparing itself to supply much of the additional gas demand of Asia between now and 2025, looking towards an expanded Panama Canal to help it offer a price that its rivals would find hard to match, reports 'The Bulletin Panama'. An increase in natural gas production in the US, thanks to the shale gas revolution, means that new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia, East Africa, Canada and Russia, can no longer count on exports to the world’s largest economy and they will have to focus more on sales to Asia.

While forecasts of financial gloom dominate mainstream news casts, there is an emerging feeling of optimism in fo the near term prospects for the oil and gas business. Oil and gas industry leaders have forecast improved performance and higher levels of capital expenditure this year, despite concerns over global economic instability, according to a new report on the future of the sector. Increased investment across the industry will focus on exploration activity, with North America emerging as the area with the greatest opportunities in 2012.

Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), designer of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) announced five AIPs for transportation of liquefied gases other than LNG. As an outcome of the shale gas revolution in the U.S., there is an abundant supply of ethane. In order to use this ethane, it must be transported, consequently, interest in ethane as a cargo is on the rise, giving way to the need for dedicated vessels. The five AIPs (Approval in Principle) received from Class Societies (ABS, BV, CCS, DNV and LR) confirm that membrane technology is in a solid position among the range of containment systems.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for a very large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier able to navigate the Panama Canal from Astomos Energy Corp. The vessel is to feature MHI's world-class energy efficiency and outstanding versatility enabling it to flexibly accommodate the requirements of major LPG terminals. Completion and delivery are scheduled for the second half of 2015. The LPG carrier is to be built at MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works…

Confidence for improved margins and higher capital investment has returned to the oil and gas industry this year, according to a group of industry leaders. However in the long-term, the energy sector faces unprecedented challenges that could have a lasting impact for years to come. The comments were among those made at an exclusive roundtable event held recently in Houston by GL Noble Denton, an independent technical advisor to the industry. This event followed the publication of “Big Spenders: The outlook for the oil and gas industry in 2012”…

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) president Takao Tanaka delivered a New Year message in which he comments on future market directions and developments as related to MES as well as the industry as a whole. Tanaka outlined his company’s approach to stabilizing profits across each market segment in which it is present, highlighting a company-wide focus on expansion and balanced growth. Tanaka said the present business environment sees global increases in energy demand and the progression of structural changes in the industry resulting from the shale gas revolution…

Cameron LNG, one of the most advanced US LNG export projects, (promoted by GDF SUEZ as a shareholder and a capacity holder), has been granted conditional non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) approval from the US Department of Energy (DOE). The Non-FTA agreement will enable GDF SUEZ to export LNG from the Cameron LNG project, in Louisiana, into countries that have not signed a FTA with the USA. GDF Suez inform that the project received  FTA approval in January 2012. The Non-FTA approval will enable them to sell the LNG produced by the Cameron plant, to a much wider range of partners around the world.

DNV has launched a recommended practice (RP) for the entire life cycle of shale gas extraction, based on risk management principles. The recommended practice provides a reference document for the independent verification of shale gas projects. The objective is for the RP to form the basis for a globally recognised standard for safe and sustainable shale gas extraction. DNV’s recommended practice applies risk management principles, to ensure that threats related to shale gas activities are effectively and efficiently managed in an accurate, balanced, transparent and traceable way. “The overall objective of this Recommended Practice is…

The U.S. Shale Gas Revolution continues to drive orders for some of the world’s largest, most sophisticated tonnage. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) received an order from Astomos Energy Corporation for a very large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier. The LPG carrier on order is identical to a vessel ordered to MHI by Astomos Energy late last year. Completion and delivery of the ship are scheduled for the first half of 2016. The newly ordered LPG carrier will measure 230.0 meters (m) in length overall (LOA)…