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"For much of the state of Maine, the environment is the economy"                                            — US Senator Susan Collins, 2012 Jun 21

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Top

31 December 2007

Regional directors accept LNG petition — Powell River Peak, Powell River, BC

Based on the most recent census statistics, there are 775 eligible residents on Texada. They were asked if they agreed with the following statement: "I oppose WestPac LNG Corporation's proposal to build and operate a LNG facility on Texada Island, the passage of LNG tankers through the [Strait of Georgia], the construction and operation of a gas-fired electricity generation plant and the building of a high-voltage power line on Texada Island."

McWilliam reported that 84 per cent of the eligible residents agreed with the statement.

Speak out [Letter to the editor] — Powell River Peak, Powell River, BC

WestPac home invaders, go back to where the buffalo used to roam. Stu Leson (WestPac president), go back to Texas. Mark Butler (former WestPac president), seek redemption. Come over from the dark side and reveal to British Columbians the real dangers of this greedy, insane proposal.

Feds launch query into ethics conflict — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

FERC's concern is especially poignant in light of controversy over whether the Bradwood and Palomar projects are codependent and, thus, would need to be assessed together.

"The reality is these projects are one and the same, and what FERC really needs to do is pull its head out of the sand and acknowledge they ought to be evaluating the Bradwood project and the Palomar project at the same time." (Dec 21)

Selling out the river for California [Editorial] — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

On one hand, the commission's approval of Bradwood Landing's land-use application is utterly serious. At the same time, the commission's unwillingness to reckon with global reality is something out of a bad movie about small-town people selling their souls for a few jobs.

Even at this early stage, there are distinct signs that LNG could swiftly transform from a polite and cooperative house guest into an oblivious glutton that always forces its way to the head of the line, no matter the cost to fishermen and others.

LNG is a classic example of economic colonialism, the sort of business run from thousands of miles away that has abused our hospitality in the distant past. [Red and bold emphasis added.] (Dec 20)

Top

29 December 2007

U.S., Canada dispute intensifies over LNG terminals, WSJ says — Bloomberg.com

Tankers heading toward the planned terminals would have to sail a narrow strait between two Canadian islands in Passamaquoddy Bay, raising Canadian concern about the impact on shipping lanes, whale watching, and potentially explosive cargo, the Journal said. The ships would be escorted by armed guards to protect against terrorist attack, interfering with Canadian boat traffic, the newspaper said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other U.S. officials have said Canada's position violates the Law of the Sea Treaty, the newspaper reported. (Dec 22)

Webmaster's Comments: Since the US isn't a party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, it can expect no rights or protections under that treaty, and can expect no resolution via the United Nations. What the State Department is saying with respect to this issue in Passamaquoddy Bay, essentially is, "You have to respect our rights [rights that don't exist, but that we claim], but we don't have to respect yours."

Risk of LNG minimal, benefits clear [Op-ed column] — South Coast Today, New Bedford, MA

Weaver's Cove Energy has proposed to invest over $500 million to build an LNG terminal in Fall River. We looked at dozens of sites throughout New England, and determined that Fall River offered the best mix of ingredients needed for a successful LNG terminal: a deep-water port, proximity to the natural gas pipeline system, and a site large enough to meet or exceed federally mandated safety measures.

Criticism of our project generally comes from two directions. One is the fear of explosion, a fear which opponents use to scare the public and drown any meaningful discussion of the issues.

The second argument is that it is better to place LNG terminals offshore. However, offshore LNG technology is neither technically nor commercially proven. [Red and bold emphasis added.] (Dec 22)

Webmaster's Comments: It's amazing how many LNG terminal developers sound so much alike, while at the same time ignoring their own industry standards (see SIGTTO).

The de facto (SIGTTO) world standards for LNG terminal siting includes:

Terminal siting — including the LNG ship transit — must be located where LNG vapors from a spill cannot harm civilians. The industry standards do not allow for "small-probability" risk — the risk is simply not allowable, meaning, "keep LNG tanker routes and terminals well away from people." That strategy is to protect the industry, since any catastrophe that harms the public will harm the industry, by resulting in the probable halt of LNG importation. (Source: "Site Selection and Design for LNG Ports and Jetties," SIGTTO, 1997.)

Our view: LNG plan's dangers outweigh savings [Editorial] — South Coast Today, New Bedford, MA

[T]he last thing SouthCoast needs is old-order energy infrastructure at a time when energy science is evolving at breakneck speed. We won't be a dumping ground. (Dec 20)

Webmaster's Comments: Although the editorial uses the term "explosion" excessively, and perhaps inappropriately, a fireball from an LNG spill would still burn people up to a mile away. In addition, if there were no initial "explosion" or fireball, the drifting gas could freeze, asphyxiate, or burn civilians; or could explode in confinement, such as in a building.

Although the LNG developers like to accuse opponents of "fear mongering," the LNG industry, itself, through its standards-development organization, SIGTTO, warns against locating LNG terminals and LNG shipping lanes where vapor from an LNG spill would harm civilians. That warning isn't entirely benevolent; by ensuring safety to everyone, the future of the LNG industry is protected.

Rogue LNG developers like Weavers Cove Energy, Downeast LNG, and Quoddy Bay LNG, are a clear threat to the future of the industry, by ignoring the industry's sensible, fact-based standards established from over 20-years of research and experience.

Year in review: Around town — The Dundalk Eagle, Dundalk, MD

LNG

Just like in 2006, Dundalk-Edgemere went through a year of activity in the attempt by Virginia-based AES Sparrows Point to build a $400 million liquefied natural gas facility at the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Shipyard. (Dec 27)

Island petition has signatures of most citizens — Powell River Peak, Powell River, BC

Texada Action Now (TAN), a local community association formed to help combat the proposal, has collected the signatures of 84% of the adult population of Texada Island on a petition opposing the LNG plant. "The known risks that come with the tankers and the LNG project are not acceptable to Texada Islanders," said Chuck Childress, TAN chairman. "We consider Texada an affordable paradise and want to keep it that way. This project is not wanted, not needed, and certainly not green." (Dec 20)

The top 10 stories of the year — News-Register, McMinnville, OR

4. Opposition swells over big pipeline proposal

This is a battle that's just warming up; expect it to be one of next year's top stories, too. The issue has united some odd bedfellows — property rights advocates and environmentalists who otherwise are often at odds — to fight both proposals.

Each company has made preliminary applications with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which held an emotionally wrought public hearing in Forest Grove in which FERC officials acted as if a brick wall separated them from the audience, and another in McMinnville for the so-called Palomar line, which was unusual for the high degree of interaction between policy-makers and the public. [Red emphasis added.]

LNG terminal carries long-term threats [Op-ed] — The Hillsboro Argus, Hillsboro, OR

[Op-ed writer] Don B. Hennig is a professional engineer. In 1973, he was responsible for review and evaluation of environmental and public safety issues associated with proposed importation of LNG to Staten Island for the New York State Public Service Commission. (Dec 27)

Anger boils over at Banks pipeline meeting — The Hillsboro Argus, Hillsboro, OR

It was clear that this Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-mandated open house wasn't Hansen's favorite way to spread information about his project.

"We're more comfortable doing this in a small group where we come out and visit with them," Hansen said. "This is not rocket science, it's just people working together." (Dec 24)

Webmaster's Comments: It isn't "people working together," it's big money - big energy attempting to manipulate the public. At the Banks meeting the public was having none of it.

Pipelines split owners and properties — News-Register, McMinnville, OR

Auerbach recently founded the Northwest Property Rights Coalition to fight the use of eminent domain in the federal pipeline siting process. The group already has 50 members. [Red emphasis added.] (Dec 27)

Potential LNG conflict concerns fed commission — The World, Coos Bay, OR

ASTORIA (AP) — Federal officials say they are concerned about a potential conflict of interest with an environmental consulting group that’s working on two linked energy projects in the northern Oregon Coast.

Staff from the Natural Resource Group is working on both the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas project and the Palomar Gas Transmission pipeline.

“NRG’s work on the Palomar pipeline could appear to provide it with a financial interest in seeing that the Bradwood Landing LNG Project gets approved,” [FERC's Richard Hoffman] wrote. (Dec 25)

Canadian natural gas vs LNG — The Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON

Inside Energy Blog

LNG imports in the U.S. are low right now because the benchmark gas price in the country is at about $7 per thousand cubic feet (U.S.). By comparison, LNG producers selling their product in Asia can get as much as double that rate. [Red emphasis added.] (Dec 26)

Top

19 December 2007

USCG denies reconsideration of Waterway Suitability Assessment — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

Capt. Roy Nash, U.S. Coast Guard, issued a point-by-point denial of Weaver's Cove LNG's request for reconsideration of  the agency's decision to declare the proposed tanker route to Weaver's Cove LNG "unsuitable" for LNG vessel traffic.

LNG official anticipates long court battle — Standard-Times, New Bedford, MA

Gordon Shearer, president and CEO of Weaver's Cove/Hess LNG Inc., told The Standard-Times editorial board that he would have been surprised if Coast Guard Capt. Roy A. Nash had reversed his sharp denial of a navigation permit in the brief appeal period after his original October ruling against the company.

[P]ilots, who would be employed on the shipping of LNG tankers up Narragansett and Mount Hope bays and then the Taunton River to Fall River, held that the river is navigable for the LNG tanker ships. That view was rejected by Capt. Nash, who maintained in his latest letter to Hess that there is simply no room for human error at any time along the route.

"I've never seen the Coast Guard ever question a pilots' report," Mr. Shearer said.

Webmaster's Comments: Kudos to US Coast Guard Capt. Roy Nash for standing up for safety, even when "cowboy" pilots are blinded by greed. The Weaver's Cove/Hess LNG Inc/Fall River LNG terminal project fails industry LNG terminal siting safety standards (SIGTTO).

Shearer's dismissal of offshore LNG terminals as "unproven" feigns ignorance regarding the LNG terminal 116 miles offshore from Louisiana that offloaded its entire LNG cargo during Hurricane Katrina. That offshore technology has been in use in the North Sea for over 20 years.

SIGTTO member Weaver's Cove Energy is proving to be an irresponsible member, threatening the reputation of the industry.

FERC also is at fault for issuing a permit for this project in the face of obvious industry safety violations.

Exxon Mobil to seek LNG facility off Jersey coast — Aberdeen Independent, Freehold, NJ

SEA BRIGHT - After Exxon Mobil Corp. announced plans to seek regulatory approval for a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal off the coast of New Jersey Dec. 11, state officials and local activists are speaking out against the plan.

Coalition protests gas plant — The Nanaimo Daily News, Vancouver Island, Nanaimo, BC

…Deborah Conner of the Nanaimo-based Georgia Strait Alliance says the project is not consistent with the province's evolving energy policies.

Conner said at a time when the provincial government is setting legislated targets to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the project would move the province in the wrong direction. (Dec 18)

Kulongoski supports LNG terminals, knocks site analysis — KATU-TV, Portland, OR

The proposal fails to fully consider the safety of local communities, or Oregon's role in preparing for emergencies, the governor added. And there are no assurances that Northern Star will make up for emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, or set aside enough money to retire the terminal when its life is done or if it goes bankrupt.

Kulongoski said state agencies were already analyzing the proposal when Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which took authority for that process away from states and gave it to FERC. [Bold emphasis added.]

Webmaster's Comments: Unlike Maine's Governor Baldacci, Oregon's Governor Kulongoski is responsibly opposing unsafe LNG terminal siting, even though he doesn't oppose LNG.

LNG planning 'flawed,' governor says — The Oregonian, Portland, OR

FERC representatives have indicated in public meetings that the agency isn't in the business of analyzing the need for natural gas or choosing between competing proposals. It leaves that decision to the market.

Carrier said [FERC's] position -- if FERC sticks to it -- is inconsistent with federal law. Carrier said the state will press the case for a comprehensive need analysis as part of FERC's final environmental review, to be completed in the spring.

"That's a complete abdication of their responsibility," Carrier said. "Any environmental impact statement begins with a needs justification. It's fundamental to us that they have a need to justify the action." [Bold and red emphasis added.]

Webmaster's Comments: Natural gas pipelines are considered by FERC to be necessary for "public convenience" — something that implies "need." FERC's argument that they aren't "in the business of analyzing the need for natural gas" is flawed.

Top

18 December 2007

Editorial: Invest in 'quality of place' — Bangor Daily News, Bangor, ME

Valuing and investing in the quality of place is a new way of thinking for Maine. "In the old way, Maine’s surroundings were nice but not relevant to economic development. Today, Maine’s surroundings remain nice, but are now the very key to our economic future,’’ the report concludes. Much can be done to sustain the quality of place without spending much money — land use planning, tax credits for downtown and historic structure development, negotiating conservation easements on key properties come to mind — but new spending is necessary to move this work along.

Webmaster's Comments: This editorial is a refreshing reversal by the Bangor Daily News editorial staff. They have previously advocated the "Wall-mart" and "LNG" mentality, welcoming any promise of any jobs by any kind of business — even when those businesses are destructive to economy and way of life.

Annual energy outlook 2008 (early release): Energy trends to 2030 — US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Washington, DC

Key energy market changes identified by EIA analysts and reflected in AEO2008 include:

Slower projected growth in energy demand (particularly for natural gas but also for liquid fuels and coal)

Slower projected growth in energy imports, both natural gas and liquid fuels
[Bold red emphasis added.] (Dec 2007)

Webmaster's Comments: Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG prospects are looking even more dreary, given this US Government analysis.

Annual energy outlook 2008 (early release): Energy Prices — US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Washington, DC

AEO2008 projects higher energy prices to consumers for most delivered fuels. For example, in 2030, the average delivered price for natural gas (in 2006 dollars) is more than $1 higher in the AEO2008 reference case than was projected in AEO2007. In part, the higher prices are a result of higher prices paid to fossil fuel producers at the wellhead or minemouth; but they also result from updates made to assumptions about the costs to transport, distribute, and refine the fuels to make them more consistent with recent trends. For example, the margins between the delivered and wellhead prices of natural gas are higher than previously projected, as a result of declining use per customer and the cost of bringing supplies from new regions to market.
[Bold red emphasis added.] (Dec 2007)

Webmaster's Comments: Even more bad news for Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG.

Annual energy outlook 2008 (early release): Energy Consumption — US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Washington, DC

The projection for natural gas consumption in the AEO2008 reference case is sharply lower than in AEO2007.

Consumption is lower in all sectors, and particularly in the industrial and electricity power sectors.

…a result of higher delivered natural gas prices, lower economic growth, and a reassessment of natural gas use in the energy-intensive industries.
[Bold red emphasis added.] (Dec 2007)

Webmaster's Comments: Downeast LNG's and Quoddy Bay LNG's argument that their projects are needed, and that they will bring down the cost of natural gas, is debunked by LNG industry experts, FERC personnel (former FERC Chairman Wood), and now by US Government projections.

Economist rips Rabaska tax deal — The Gazette, Montreal, QC

A Université Laval economist testified yesterday that the $11 million a year the Rabaska consortium proposes to pay the city of Lévis would be less than $2 million a year by the time their 50-year agreement comes to a close.

Freeport LNG to amend Waterway Suitability Assessment — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

As designed, Freeport LNG’s facilities [at Quintana, Texas] could accommodate Q-Max vessels, but Freeport notes that the shipping channel is currently too small to receive such large ships. However, Port Freeport and the Army Corps of Engineers have proposed to widen the ship channel….

Gas leak spurs evacuation of dialysis center — Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL

Frigid temperatures might have caused the 6-inch pipe to crack and expel gas fumes, Peoples Energy officials said.

The temperature at Midway Airport around the time of the leak was 20 degrees, said Chris Gitro, a National Weather Service meteorologist. (Dec 17)

Webmaster's Comments: This is discomforting news to anyone who lives, works, or travels near a natural gas pipeline anywhere that temperatures drop all the way down to +20°F — like Maine, for instance.

Louisiana pipeline blast kills one — Reuters

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A motorist was killed and another was injured when the Columbia Gulf natural gas pipeline in northeast Louisiana exploded on Friday afternoon near an interstate highway, said a Louisiana State Police spokeswoman. (Dec 14)

Webmaster's Comments: Apparently, natural gas pipelines, often located near people, aren't as safe as FERC and the Department of Transportation would like people to believe.

Columbia Gulf gas line explodes in Louisiana, I-20 shut: sheriff — Platts [Registration required]

"The pipeline caught fire and shook people's houses for miles around," said the deputy, who asked not to be identified. She had no further details. (Dec 14)

Webmaster's Comments: This report makes one wonder how unconfined natural gas — something that the LNG industry and FERC says can't explode — exploded, according to news accounts, and exploded enough to shake houses miles away. (Natural gas confined in a pipeline can't explode, since the pipe contains no oxygen.)

There is an average of one US natural gas pipeline "incident" every three days, according to data from the US DOT Office of Pipeline Safety.

U.S. Renewable Energy Use to Double by 2030 — Renewable Energy Law Blog, Shems Dunkiel Kassel & Saunders, Burlington, VT

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its annual long-term U.S. energy forecast yesterday (large pdf).

Top

17 December 2007

Law of Sea Treaty, Head Harbour Passage and reaction — WQDY-FM, Calais, ME

Coast Guard Capt. Charles D. Michel, chief of the Office of Maritime and International Law, cited Head Harbour Passage as a "close to home example" of how failure to accede to the [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)] treaty could negatively affect American consumers near the U.S./Canada border. (Dec 14)

Webmaster's Comments: Quoddy Bay LNG's Brian Smith needs to break his habit of misinformation. He ought to ask international maritime law experts whether or not the US can claim rights under UNCLOS.

Ted MacDorman, the attorney who provided Downeast LNG with his opinion regarding Head Harbour Passage, answered that question at a maritime law panel in 2006, saying that the US has no rights under UNCLOS. Treaty rights require both affected parties to agree. So far, the US hasn't agreed to the treaty; thus, it has no rights under that treaty. LNG vessels for the Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG projects have no rights under UNCLOS.

CG Capt. Michel made the false assertion that the proposed Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG projects are actually needed and would be approved by the Coast Guard, by FERC, by the State of Maine, and by the Army Corps of Engineers. Capt. Michel has pre-judged and politicized the Coast Guard's own Waterway Suitability Assessment — something that the Coast Guard previously said would not happen. In addition, he ignored the US statutory requirements for the Coast Guard to prevent LNG transits in waterways that are unsuitable for that purpose. If the US has that authority, then so does Canada, and Canada has exercised that authority.

Otherwise, Capt. Michel is arguing that the US Coast Guard has no authority to prevent LNG UNCLOS-defined "innocent passage" transits in unsuitable waters — even though Congress requires the Coast Guard to prevent such passage. Capt. Michel appears to be arguing that the Coast Guard should defy Congress!

Hub councilors dump on storm response — The Boston Herald, Boston, MA

The snow-driven gridlock that brought Boston to its knees for almost an entire day proves the city is helpless in the face of genuine disasters such as LNG explosions or dirty-bomb attacks, city councilors say. (Dec 15)

AES is asked to reroute LNG pipeline in PA. — Dundalk Eagle, Dundalk, MD

“We are writing [FERC] to compel [the] AES Corporation to thoroughly investigate an alternate route of a small section of the proposed Sparrows Point pipeline in Upper Uwchlan Township,” said the letter, dated Nov. 28. “Within [four] properties, there is a point where three pipelines intersect, a stream with surrounding wetlands needs to be crossed and a woodline leads right to a 300-year-old oak tree. ... We continue to pursue a solution that would have the least impact to residential properties.” (Dec 13)

Oil officials expect liquefied-gas plans to aid economy, air — NorthJersey.com, NJ

He added that the new supplies of natural gas would reduce the region's air emissions by lessening the need for coal-fired power generation, and would be "in line with the state's new energy master plan."

The Crown Landing project is on hold, pending the outcome of a legal battle between New Jersey and Delaware over the proposed location for the terminal. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case last month. (Dec 13)

Webmaster's Comments: How does burning more hydrocarbon fuel add up to less polution?

Exxon eyes floating LNG terminal off N.J. — ISA (The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society), The Research Triangle Park, NC

It plans to anchor the terminal, which it calls BlueOcean Energy, about 20 miles off the New Jersey coast and 30 miles offshore from New York. (Dec 13)

A better LNG option for BP consideration [Opinion] — The News Journal, Wilmington, DE

The [Exxon Mobil BlueOcean Energy] proposal is the seemingly sensible answer to BP's ill-advised idea of putting a LNG facility on the Delaware River shore of New Jersey, not just illegally in the State of Delaware's territory but also presenting safety concerns to tens of thousands of residents.

The idea of building a terminal far away from populations is a reasonable way to meet the ever increasing demand for LNG, used to generate electricity, heat homes and serve as raw material in a number of industrial uses. [Bold emphasis added.]

4Gas has purchased Vista del Sol LNG project — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

The Vista del Sol LNG project, to be located near Ingleside, Texas, has already received the necessary regulatory approvals but was shelved by Exxon so that the company could focus on its Golden Pass LNG import terminal project.

Alaska delegation vows to block gas pipeline plan backed by China — Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, AK

The delegation said this week it would do everything possible to keep Alaska's proposed gas pipeline contract from going to Sinopec ZPEB, a joint venture of two oil-industry companies backed by the Chinese government.

"I will tell the Chinese they have no possible hope of getting gas from us," said U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, who sits on the China-U.S. Interparliamentary Conference. "I don't see it happening. With the shortage of natural gas in the United States, that gas is not going to be allowed to be exported." (Dec 13)

Webmaster's Comments: Finally, someone recognizes the folly of shipping Alaskan natural gas (in LNG form) overseas. Will Alaska also stop shipping LNG to Japan?

Oregon LNG completes navigation and docking simulation [News release] — PRNewswire, Yahoo Finance

"The simulation confirms that our site is well-suited for even the largest vessels, such as the Q-Max," said Peter Hansen, Oregon LNG chief executive officer. "The simulation also shows that the tankers can safely navigate the Columbia River Bar."

The location of the project site has other advantages. Because the site and the tanker transit route are distant from population centers, bridges and other major infrastructures, "the site is ideal from a safety and security standpoint," Hansen added.

Webmaster's Comments: Contrary to the Oregon LNG's news release, the simulation indicates only that navigating to the site could be easy. The problem is that the proposed site's LNG ships' three hazard zones (Sandia National Laboratories'-defined "Zones of Concern") engulf nearly the entire City of Warrenton. In addition, the proposed pier is exposed to other heavily-laden shipping traffic in the nearby shipping lane. Both problems violate LNG industry SIGTTO best practices.

Storm blows county off guard on LNG — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

The draft said all other vessels would be expected to move outside the 500-foot security exclusion zone for 15 minutes or more before resuming their position. And commercial fishermen might face longer delays. "This is not true" was his written response. [Joe Desmond, NorthernStar's senior vice president for external affairs,] said "exclusion zones" don't exist. (Dec 24)

Webmaster's Comments: This is an example of an LNG developer telling half-truths. It's strictly correct that there are no "exclusion zones" around LNG vessels; however, there are "Safety and Security Zones" that exclude other vessels from approaching or being near LNG vessels and their transit route.

County embraces LNG — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

The decision rejected staff arguments that the project is too large and too disruptive to the environment and dashed the hopes of liquefied natural gas opponents, many of whom are organizing to challenge the ruling in court.

Before the final vote, Patrick urged commissioners to slow down and wait for Bradwood's cost-sharing agreement to be completed. (Dec 14)

Webmaster's Comments: The county's approval, in an information vacuum and in the face of staff advice against the project, is puzzling.

County OKs three LNG requests — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

By a vote of 3-2, with commissioners Patricia Roberts and Sam Patrick against, the board agreed that the Bradwood LNG project, proposed for a site 20 miles east of Astoria on the Columbia River, is "small- to medium-scale" as required by county land-use laws. (Dec 13)

LNG terminal clears hurdle in Clatsop — The Oregonian, Portland, OR

"Frankly, they've reached a conclusion that appears to defy the law of physics," said Brent Foster, executive director of Columbia Riverkeepers. "This is one of the largest industrial projects in Oregon in three decades. This decision doesn't even really pass the laugh test." (Dec 14)

Anti-LNG protesters call on Governor to oppose LNG — Willamette Week, Portland, OR

About 150 people opposed to a liquefied natural gas pipeline that would cut across Oregon gathered Wednesday outside NW Natural's headquarters in Portland and called on Gov. Ted Kulongoski (who considers his political legacy to depend upon his record on climate change) to oppose the pipeline and the LNG terminals proposed on the Oregon Coast. (Dec 13)

California Energy Commission report predicts lower gas prices in short term — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

Platts LNG Daily [subscription required] reports that the California Energy Commission's 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report predicts that natural gas prices for California consumers will fall in the short term, but rise to $7/Mcf by 2017. (Dec 14)

Top

13 December 2007

United States: Homeland Security alert: DHS triggers reporting requirement with list of "Chemicals of Interest" — MONDAQ

On November 2, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its finalized list of "chemicals of interest," thereby triggering the 60-day reporting requirement under the DHS’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS),1 for myriad businesses, colleges and universities that possess any of the identified chemicals at or above the screening threshold amounts.

In 2005 and 2006, the Secretary of Homeland Security identified the need for legislation authorizing DHS to develop and implement a framework to regulate the security of high-risk chemical facilities in the United States. (Dec 4)

Webmaster's Comments: The Department of Homeland Security list of high-risk chemicals includes methane — natural gas, the principle component of LNG. See page 9 for the "methane" listing in the following DHS document:

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/chemsec_appendixa-chemicalofinterestlist.pdf (2.1 MB)

Proposed pipeline connecting Rockies Express to Northeastern markets may transport LNG (sic) from the Gulf — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

The pipeline is expected … to transport regasified LNG from terminals in the Gulf region to the Northeast. (Dec 11)

Webmaster's Comments: More bad news for Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG.

Note: The headline erroneously states that the pipeline would contain LNG. The article clarifies that it would contain regasified LNG — natural gas. Due to LNG's transient cryogenic nature, there are no LNG pipelines anywhere in the world.

Groups mobilize against floating, liquefied gas terminal — Staten Island Advance, Staten Island, NY

State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore), who has championed a state ban on building LNG facilities in any New York city of 1 million or more people, said ExxonMobile's plan seems sound, especially given the great distance from land.

Webmaster's Comments: While the proposed offshore terminal location might possibly be an appropriate location, Sen. Lanza apes FERC's lack of respect for lives in small communities.

Exxon Mobil plan may harm Broadwater's chances — Newsday, New York, NY

Exxon's proposed site, 20 miles off the New Jersey coast, is less environmentally objectionable, opponents say.

A leading opponent of the Broadwater project, Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said in an e-mail: "This just proves our point that there are alternative locations other than the middle of Long Island Sound. ... Looks like the Broadwater barge is sinking under the competition."

Port Arthur hearing being held on route of pipeline — The Beaumont Enterprise, Beaumont, TX

A 42-inch pipeline running from the Golden Pass LNG facility through Port Arthur en route to Calcasieu parish will be the subject of a public hearing at 9 a.m. on Jan. 2 at City Hall, council members voted Tuesday.

Island hard to evacuate [Letter to the editor] — Powell River Peak, Powell River, BC

If WestPac LNG were honest about health and safety concerns and the burdens that would be placed on Texada residents, they would scrap their proposal to build an LNG plant on Texada Island.

Group protests plans for three — The Oregonian, Portland, OR

LNG terminals across Oregon Farmers, fishermen and environmentalists thronged the Portland headquarters of Northwest Natural Gas Co. Wednesday to protest three proposed liquefied natural gas terminals near the coast and related pipelines that would snake across hundreds of miles of Oregon countryside.

Opponents sound off about proposed LNG (sic) pipeline — Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) News, Portland, OR

Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Portland Wednesday to voice opposition to a proposed pipeline that would carry Liquefied Natural Gas or LNG. (Dec 12)

Webmaster's Comments: The pipeline would not carry LNG, but would carry natural gas (regasified from LNG) away from LNG terminals. Because of LNG's transient cryogenic nature, there are no LNG pipelines anywhere in the world.

County postpones LNG presentation — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners had a lot to consider for its regular meeting Wednesday night. And they decided to postpone the Columbia River Estuary Task Force presentation of environmental-impact comments summarizing NorthernStar Natural Gas Co.'s Bradwood Landing project until after today's deliberations on its land-use applications.

'Don't give them their permit' — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

NorthernStar Energy LLC, the company hoping to build a liquefied natural gas facility on the Columbia River at Bradwood Landing, 20 miles east of Astoria, won't get the city of Warrenton's agreement without some significant changes in the measures providing for public safety. The public safety plans for the Bradwood project were put forward in a federal Draft Environmental Impact Statement in October.

According to federal law, NorthernStar cannot begin construction until local emergency response agencies have signed off on a cost-sharing plan, Polasek said. City Attorney Hal Snow said it's vital for the agreement to be in place before NorthernStar gets a permit from FERC.

Webmaster's Comments: Although Astoria desires an emergency response cost-sharing plan prior to FERC issuing a permit, FERC doesn't require emergency response plans until after they issue the permit. Thus, any pre-permit bargaining between LNG companies and communities occurs without knowing the actual emergency response costs.

Feds gloss over LNG impacts — The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR

After reviewing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 600-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Bradwood project, proposed for a site 20 miles east of Astoria, three Columbia River Estuary Study Taskforce employees hired by Clatsop County found the feds glossed over some serious impacts to the local area. (Dec 12)

Malibu City Council unanimously opposes Woodside LNG project — Malibu Surfside News, Malibu, CA

The council Monday passed without discussion an ordinance expressing city opposition to the Woodside Natural Gas terminal proposed for 21 miles south of Point Dume, its nearest landfall.

Council votes to oppose LNG project — The Malibu Times, Malibu, CA

"As the process to approve this and other LNG ports proceeds, it is imperative that the city continue to voice its opposition and keep the state of California and the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission informed of the real threat LNG ports pose to the environment, public safety tourism and property values in Malibu and the surrounding areas," the resolution reads. (Dec 12)

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12 December 2007

Harper dismisses Bush plea for gas tankers passage: U.S. official — The Canadian Press (CP)

[US Coast Guard] Capt. Charles Michel said the issue is a good example of why the United States needs to endorse the international treaty on the Law of the Sea. "Without being a party to the Law of the Sea Convention, we cannot avail ourselves of the dispute-resolution provisions," he said.

"My understanding is President Bush has personally communicated with the prime minister, who blew off (Bush) and said no, because he's playing to his local political constituency."

[T]he United States is not about to use force with Canada over the issue, [Capt. Charles Michel] said.

"Right now, U.S. citizens are likely going to end up paying more for their natural gas and probably have less of it because of our inability to become a party to the (treaty). I don't know how much closer to home that can hit." [Red emphasis added.] (Dec 11)

Webmaster's Comments: Several observations:

Capt. Michel confirms that, since the US isn't a party to the UN Law of the Sea treaty, and due to Canada's position, LNG ships can't transit Head Harbour Passage under that treaty.
 

There are several problems with Capt. Michel saying that Prime Minister Harper was "playing to his local political constituency":

Canada's policy to disallow LNG transits in Passamaquoddy Bay conforms perfectly with the LNG industry's own terminal siting standards (see SIGTTO) — Passamaquoddy Bay, for around 30 reasons, violates those standards. Harper's government is merely exercising good judgement.
 

Capt. Michel contradicts former FERC chairman Pat Wood, current FERC knowledge, and experts in the LNG industry by predicting that "US citizens are likely to end up paying more for their natural gas and probably have less of it" as a result of no LNG transits into Passamaquoddy Bay.

Prior to leaving his position in 2005, then-FERC Chairman Wood stated that only 7–9 new LNG terminals are needed to meet future US natural gas demands.
 

According to FERC's LNG webpage (as of 2007 Dec 12; See the last sentence in the last paragraph below the heading, "How many projects might be built?"), "Many industry analysts predict that only 12 of the 40 LNG terminals being considered will ever be built." (Some of those 40 are expansions of existing projects, including non-terminal peak-shaving facilities.)

As of 2007 Oct 31, according to FERC (PDF, 128 KB), there are:

5 existing US lower-48 states LNG import terminals, including four shoreside and one offshore;
 

21 FERC-approved, including 18 new terminals and 3 expansions;

4 MARAD-approved import terminals; (MARAD = Marine Administration; they have permitting authority for offshore LNG terminals; FERC is not involved in permitting these terminals)
 
— That's 22 approved new US terminals, plus 3 expansions (25 total), many more than needed to fulfill the demand for natural gas.
 

4 Canadian-approved import terminals;

4 Mexican-approved import terminals, including 1 expansion;
 
— Note that some Canadian and Mexican terminals intend to send natural gas via pipeline to the US.

LNG industry experts have indicated that the two LNG offshore terminals near Gloucester, Massachusetts, along with the Canaport terminal , will over-supply the natural gas needs of northern New England by 400%. Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG simply aren't needed.
 

Natural gas prices are a function of many complex forces, including Europe's and Asia's willingness to pay more (with lower transportation costs).

Capt. Michel's remarks — including the statement that PM Harper "blew off" President Bush — are clearly political and inflammatory. By the US Coast Guard playing politics, Capt. Michel has violated the public trust, and has damaged Coast Guard credibility.

Pentagon: Sea Treaty in U.S. Interests — Military.com

The U.S. is not about to go to war with Canada over the possibility our northern neighbor will bar liquid natural gas tanker ships from passing through Canadian waters to New England -- a restriction that would impose a severe hardship on the region. (Dec 11)

Webmaster's Comments: This article is based on the same misguided, inappropriate quotes from USCG Capt. Charles Michel.

USCG reaffirms unfavorable Weaver's Cove LNG tanker plan decision — Platts

In his letter Friday, Nash said that "several recurring themes and inaccurate factual assertions raised in your request for reconsideration merit specific response." (Dec 11)

Coast Guard denies appeal on LNG project — South Coast Today, New Bedford, MA

…Capt. Nash's point-by-point rebuttal of the appeal contained a sharp rebuke to Weaver's Cove for impugning his professional integrity by leveling the accusation that nowhere else has a port captain "substituted his judgment for the judgment of professional pilots."

Capt. Nash said he did take the pilots' views into account, but noted their monetary stake in the matter…. "Ultimately, I am the only financially disinterested party with the statutory responsibility and authority … for ensuring the safety of the federal waterway."

"I will not abdicate that responsibility to marine pilots, to Weaver's Cove, or any other person or entity — that duty is mine alone." [Bold red emphasis added.] (Dec 11)

Wary of protests, Exxon plans natural gas terminal in the Atlantic — The New York Times, New York, NY

Exxon Mobil said Tuesday that it would like to build a $1 billion floating terminal for liquefied natural gas about 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey, a move meant to deflect safety and environmental concerns about proximity to populated areas.

“We have tried to learn from our past experiences and that of the industry in general,” said Ron P. Billings, Exxon’s vice president for global liquefied natural gas.

So far no one has been able to crack the nut of getting infrastructure sited in the Northeast, and that’s why you have all these proposals to go offshore….

Webmaster's Comments: Offshore, away from people, easier expansion, fewer security problems, less public resistance.

LNG group would block N.J. review of facility — Independent, Aberdeen, NJ

The Atlantic Sea Island Group (ASIG) requested an appeal of MARAD's Nov. 2 decision to designate New Jersey as an adjacent coastal state (ACS) under the Deep Water Port Act (DWPA) of 1974.

Local activist groups like Clean Ocean Action (COA), a broad coalition of ocean advocates, are concerned that ASIG is trying to block the state of New Jersey from having a voice in the project's application review process.

"When you have a project that has absolutely no negative environmental impact but only would provide a cheaper source of energy for the millions of people in New Jersey and the tri-state area, it's a shame it has to be litigated," said Roginsky [a consultant to ASIG]. "Natural gas is: A) cleaner than oil, and B) not as expensive as oil. If this project gets built, there will be an influx of cheaper energy source into New Jersey, and I don't know how any environmentalists in good conscience could be against it."

Webmaster's Comments: "Absolutely no negative environmental impact"? How about pollution from regasifying the LNG, and from LNG ships' and escourt vessels' air pollution? It's hard to understand how anyone in good conscience can believe Atlantic Sea Island Group LNG speculators.

AES lawsuit drops Baltimore County as defendant in LNG terminal fight — The Daily Record, Baltimore, MD

AES filed a motion in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court late Monday, asking the court to keep the suit, rather than send it to Baltimore County, as Judge Paul F. Harris Jr. ordered last month.

Baltimore County spokeswoman Ellen Kobler said the move to drop the county from the suit is “clearly an end run and we believe the judge will see it that way.”

Cook Inlet gas: Resource deliverability now key issue — Alaska Journal of Commerce

To prevent Enstar Natural Gas from having to cut off gas to customers, the gas supply to the LNG plant was cut 35 percent, from 244 million cubic feet to 150 million cubic feet, and gas supplied to the Tesoro refinery was cut by half, from 13 million cubic feet to 6 million cubic feet, Izzo told the conference. (Dec 9)

Webmaster's Comments: Is there some kind of mysterious logical disconnect in Alaska? The state needs natural gas, but they ship it to Japan.

Boats and tractors set to rally downtown at pipeline protest — The Hillsboro Argus, Hillsboro, OR

Businessmen and residents in downtown Portland might do a double-take Wednesday, as tractors and fishing boats parade down Northwest Second Avenue as part of a protest of proposed gas pipelines. (Dec 11)

FERC tours LNG site with public — KCBY-TV, Coos Bay, OR

"It's basically where things are going to be put. Where they're going to dredge the LNG berth, where they're going to put the tanks, where they'll put the vaporizers. Just to get a feel of where the LNG terminal is going to be situated." (Dec 11)

Webmaster's Comments: Ever notice how FERC officials assume in their language — e.g., "where the LNG terminal will be situated" — that all proposed projects will be permitted? Absence of FERC objectivity shows through.

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9 December 2007

Disabled ship's 24-hour stay at LNG terminal raises security question — Savannah Now, Savannah, GA

When a crippled container ship was allowed to dock last week at the liquid natural gas facility on Elba Island, officials there said they were being good neighbors to the river community.

"I think in principle, it's a bad idea because it's a secure facility," said [Chuck] Watson, a Savannah-based professional hazards planner who generates security analyses on government and private facilities.

Recent expansions nearly doubled [the Elba Island LNG] storage capacity, and plans call for it to be doubled again by 2012. But it's situated in an area the LNG industry itself would not recommend now, Jennings said.

"The industry's rulebook for siting [ SIGTTO ] says avoid siting where there is other harbor traffic," Jennings said.

Elba has been criticized for perceived security and safety breaches in the past, including a March 2006 incident when a surge from a passing vessel pulled the LNG tanker Golar Freeze 15 feet from its dock as it discharged its load. Just three months later, a sailboat cruised into one of the interior slips at the facility and dropped anchor.

"Either it's a secure facility and you take reasonable measures to protect it, or you're not protecting it," [Watson] said. "I'd argue they did not." [Red and bold emphasis added.] (Dec 8)

Webmaster's Comments: The LNG industry rules dictate stronger safety and security measures — rules that are also advocated by the quoted Savannah-based professional hazards planner — than the US Coast Guard Captain of the Port on the Savannah River is willing to follow.

This is another example of how government ignores the wisdom of the LNG industry's own safety standards: the Captain of the Port irresponsibly calls the industry's safety standards a "perception problem."

Agencies blast Bradwood Draft responses to LNG project environmental study indicate insufficiency — The Hillsboro Argus, Hillsboro, OR

In the draft responses, state officials called the project's need into question and criticized parts of the environmental study as "superficial," "inadequate," and "incorrect."

"If NorthernStar is any indication, we're going to have the same problems with the pipeline environmental statements," Serres said. "FERC and these companies don't appear to want to safeguard the public or our environment." (Nov 30)

Global LNG production to ‘fall short’ by 2015 — Gulf Times, Dolia, Qatar

“Shortages of labour and equipment are continuing to drive significant cost escalation and cause project delay.”

“We estimate the recent slippage has cost the industry potentially 20mn tons of supply in 2012,” UBS said. “We think much of this will not be produced now until 2015 at the earliest.” (Dec 5)

Webmaster's Comments: More bad news for Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG investors.

LNG production to lag — AME Info, Dubai Media City, UAE

Global liquefied natural gas supply may rise less than expected over the next eight years because of higher project costs, which could lead to more shortages and higher prices, according to a report by UBS AG. (Dec 4)

Exxon says rising costs risk derailing LNG boom — Reuters UK

ROME, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A sharp surge in costs to develop liquefied natural gas projects risks halting a growth boom in the industry that has been driven by soaring demand, an Exxon Mobil Corp. executive said on Tuesday. (Dec 4)

Algeria may drop long-term gas contracts -Khelil — Reuters UK

ALGIERS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Algeria could give up long-term contracts for its natural gas exports and opt instead for short and medium-term agreements that allow more flexibility on price, Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil said on Monday. (Dec 3)

Webmaster's Comments: Algeria's strategy will result in higher natural gas prices for customers.

Report says exploration could prevent an LNG cartel — MyWestTexas.com

(Houston Chronicle) - Opening federal lands to oil and gas exploration won't free the country from dependence on natural gas imports but it could head off the formation of another OPEC-like cartel, according to a study released by Rice University researchers.

The Rice study also found that opening restricted areas for natural gas drilling could hinder the development of a gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope. (Dec 2)

Webmaster's Comments: Such drilling could also slow down implementation of alternative renewalble fuels.

UAE.: Dubai's proposed LNG futures exchange — Stratfor.com, Austin, TX [Subscription required]

Dubai is set to launch a liquefied natural gas (LNG) futures exchange. It … could signal the beginnings of a future LNG version of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC]. (Nov 30)

Melkoya CO2 emissions higher than planned — The Norway Post, Oslo, Norway

The CO2 emissions from the Melkoya LNG shore terminal at Hammerfest are much higher than planned, Aftenposten reports. (Dec 4)

Webmaster's Comments: This is a new LNG liquefaction facility. It also had serious problems when starting up, resulting in copious amounts of ash falling on the community of Hammerfest.

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7 December 2007

Beware the accidental terrorists [Opinion] — Boston Herald, Boston, MA

One year before Chad LaFrance unleashed an inferno on Everett’s Main Street, I sat in the Boston City Council chambers listening to Richard A. Clarke, the elegant high priest of counter-terrorism, scare the bejeezus out of me with his imaginary version of hell.

Pretty much everything that Richard Clarke envisioned a year ago at City Hall - the great balls of fire and the radiant heat that would spread the destruction - it all came to pass on Main Street in Everett in the wee small hours of Wednesday morning. And it didn’t come via a missile, a hijacked plane or an IED. No, hell arrived courtesy of a truck driver with a shabby driving record, a sickly bank account and plenty of open road.

Webmaster's Comments: While the gasoline tanker spill and fire that occurred was a disaster, and had no security surrounding the truck's transit to help ensure safety, the "hell" that occurred was a "match fire" compared to what could happen in a catastrophic LNG release and fire from a ship in Boston Harbor.

Most accidents are the result of human error, never mind terrorists — a fact emphasized by the world's LNG industry standards (see SIGTTO), and one reason that SIGTTO recommends against locating LNG terminals where spilled LNG vapor can affect civilian populations, like Boston, Eastport, Campobello Island, Deer Island, Sipayik, Perry, Robbinston, and St. Andrews.

Battle over LNG could continue with appeals — Today's Sunbeam, Salem, NJ

The commission, known as FERC, in June 2006 approved the plan to build the Crown Landing liquefied natural gas facility. Delaware claimed that FERC acted illegally.

At the time of the Bush administration approval, the Crown Landing development had not been reviewed under state procedures that Delaware had adopted under two environmental laws, the Coastal Zone Management Act and the Clean Air Act, Delaware alleged.

The absence of state review and consent under the two environmental statutes meant that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should not have issued a license for the Crown Landing proposal, according to Delaware's lawsuit. (Dec 2)

Webmaster's Comments: Likewise, FERC — hypocritically calling itself a "safety" agency — should not issue LNG terminal project permits prior to the Coast Guard's final Waterway Suitability Assessment and Letter of Recommendation.

Energy company preaches restraint on natural gas projects - Audit puts 12-year life on reserves — Jamaica Gleaner, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies

"Trinidad has neither stranded gas nor low-priced gas anymore," said [Chairman and chief executive officer of BP Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT), Robert Riley].Based on a production rate of 4.5 billion cubic feet per day, the gas will last only 12 more years unless new discoveries are made. [Bold red emphasis added.]

Webmaster's Comments: Things are looking even worse — if that's possible — for Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG.

UPDATE 1-Excelerate confirms "exclusive" RWE talk — Reuters UK

HOUSTON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - LNG company Excelerate Energy on Thursday confirmed "exclusive conversations" with RWE (RWEG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) but declined comment on a report that the German utility is buying a stake in Excelerate.

Excelerate … operates LNG ships and regasification terminals in Great Britain and offshore Louisiana. It is preparing to open another offshore terminal [at Gloucester,] near Boston, Massachusetts. (Dec 6)

LNG's Prognosis — Energy Biz Insider, Aurora, CO

"We have a technology we can apply quickly and to other natural gas markets that other LNG providers may not be able to serve," says Excelerate Energy CEO Rob Bryngelson. "We are offshore. Through our dockside technology, we can build a gas port in about a third of the time and at substantially less cost than a traditional facility. Each ship is a floating re-gasification terminal with the flexibility to move cargo around the world." [Bold red & underline emphasis added.]

Webmaster's Comments: Offshore, less expensive, faster construction, less risk to civilians, easier to expand — a more sensible approach than used by old-technology, risk-inherent, and LNG standards non-compliant (see SIGTTO) Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG.

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6 December 2007

RWE may seek 50% stake in Excelerate Energy — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

German-based gas and distribution company RWE may seek a 50% stake in U.S.-based Excelerate Energy.

Webmaster's Comments: Excelerate Energy is the company that developed offshore "submerged buoy" LNG receiving technology. They built the first offshore LNG terminal in the US, 116 miles into the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana, that regasified and offloaded its entire cargo of LNG during Hurricane Katrina. Excelerate's technology proves that, unlike the proposed shoreside Downeast LNG and Quoddy Bay LNG projects located in a waterway that would — for around 30 reasons — violate the LNG industry's own SIGTTO standards for LNG terminal siting, LNG importation can be done without any potential harm to civilian populations.

US working gas in storage falls 88 Bcf to 3.440 Tcf: EIA — Platts [Free registration required]

Inventories are now 84 Bcf above the five-year average of 1.848 Tcf in the East, 46 Bcf above the average of 417 Bcf in the West, and 143 Bcf above the average of 902 Bcf in the producing region. [Bold emphasis added.]

NATS: U.S. LNG terminals send out lowest regasification volume in four years — LNG Law Blog, Washington, DC

American LNG regasification facilities sent out approximately 27.3 Bcf of natural gas during the month of November, registering the lowest monthly total in four years. (Dec 4)

US November LNG imports hit lowest level in four years: analyst — Platts [Free registration required]

US imports of liquefied natural gas in November dropped to their lowest level in four years, consultant Pan EurAsian Enterprises said Monday in its weekly LNG summary.

"This set of circumstances may be fortunate as recent developments in the LNG business have been troubled with problems," the consultant said in its weekly summary. [Bold emphasis added.] (Dec 3)

ABS sees strong future in CNG, LNG vessels — Energy Current, Houston, TX

INTERNATIONAL:  Classification society ABS is seeing a resurgence of interest in floating solutions for the transportation of natural gas aimed at capturing stranded gas reserves around the world.  Although natural gas is abundant, more than one-third of global gas reserves are thought to be stranded by field size and without commercially viable access to world markets.  Estimates place these stranded gas reserves at more than 3,000 Tcf.

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