SEPTEMBER
2014
LNGINDUSTRY
51
T
he recent and ongoing surge in North American shale gas
production has given rise to numerous export projects in the
US and Canada. The North American LNGmarket has been
upended by the success of extracting hydrocarbons fromwhat
have been considered ‘unconventional’ sources. Only a few years
ago, the USwas on course to significantly expand its LNG import
and regasification infrastructure. Suppliers in theMiddle East, Africa
and Asia anticipated that the USwould develop into a major LNG
consumer. Today, North America is on the brink of becoming a
major LNG supplier. The regulatory environment that restricted
exports is beginning to ease in response to the transformation of
themarket by effective new production technology. Several of the
earlier import projects have been repurposed for the liquefaction
and export of LNG. Over 20 North American LNG export projects are
now in various stages of development. Competitive dynamics will
pare the number of these projects that come to fruition, but there is
little doubt that this region will supply significant amounts of LNG to
the global market.
The prospect of LNG export fromNorth America has attracted
several new participants to this market, among themupstream
producers andmidstream transmission and distribution companies.
The success of these projects will hang upon the experience and
expertise of the partners they select to design and equip their
liquefaction plants. Elliott Group is a US-based compressor
manufacturer with experience working with large-scale LNG
producers in every region of the world.
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Story
