LNG on OTC Discussion Plan

LNG is the topic of discussion during an OTC General Session and two technical sessions planned during the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), 3-6 May, at Reliant Center at Reliant Park in Houston.

"LNG is an important issue for OTC this year," said Skipper Strong, OTC .04 Program Committee Chairman and Account Manager-ChevronTexaco at Technip Offshore. "During some major OTC sessions, participants discuss how LNG import terminals are moving offshore because of federal land issues, deepwater access for next generation carriers, and access to existing gas pipeline infrastructure.

"At OTC, we'll also see how today's offshore terminal designs are being driven by the current need to use land-based mechanical loading arms that have a restrictive envelope of motion," Strong continued. "Also many berthing and off-loading issues for LNG parallel the development of oil transfer technology going back 30 years or more. These developments will be witnessed at OTC now and in the future."

The General Session, titled Liquefied Natural Gas: Understanding the Value Chain, is scheduled 1400 to 1630 (2 to 4:30 p.m.) on Tuesday, 4 May. One of two General Sessions scheduled for OTC, this presentation focuses on the LNG value chain. The moderator, Rodney Schmidt, Managing Director, PFC Energy, outlines the history and projects the future direction of LNG. Participants will discuss upstream operations; LNG processing; transportation, regasification, and distribution. They also address market forces and regional supply and demand requirements that underlie growth in the use of LNG.