In US LNG, Saudis may seek geopolitical win, fuel with 'longer time horizon'
Saudi Arabia is reportedly nearing a decision to invest in U.S. LNG export plants, a move that could further a shift in energy flows between the two countries while underpinning one or more of the American projects backers hope to commercially sanction this year. Saudi Arabian Oil Co. has shortlisted at least four U.S. liquefaction projects with an eye toward announcing a deal for equity stakes in the first half, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 8, citing people familiar with the matter.
Cheniere approved to test systems on Corpus Christi terminal's 2nd LNG train
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a request from Cheniere Energy Inc. to introduce fuel gas and begin testing fuel gas systems on the second train of its Corpus Christi LNG export terminal in Texas, less than a month after the company shipped the first cargo from the first train. Cheniere had asked FERC on Dec. 19, 2018, to allow it to start commissioning work on the systems no later than Dec. 31, 2018. FERC gave its approval Jan. 3.
Williams gets OK to put Texas expansion feeding LNG projects into full service
Williams Cos. Inc. received the go-ahead from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin full service on the 475,000-Dth/d Gulf Connector pipeline expansion project designed to feed natural gas to two LNG export terminals on the Texas coast: Cheniere's Corpus Christi terminal and the Freeport LNG Development LP terminal. The expansion marked the second project of Williams' Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC to serve Gulf Coast LNG terminals after the company's February 2017 start of the 1.2 Bcf/d Gulf Trace project, which feeds Cheniere's Sabine Pass liquefaction and export project.
US, China near trade deal that could head off further LNG tariffs, lobbyist says
China and the U.S. are close to a trade deal that would head off a potential March 2 hike in tariffs on U.S. LNG exports, new American Petroleum Institute CEO Mike Sommers said Jan. 8. He said the API is in "close contact" with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the U.S. negotiating team in Beijing, and Lighthizer is aware of how important LNG exports are to the U.S. gas industry's future growth.
State-run developer asks to extend deadline for deal with Alaska LNG partners
Alaska Gasline Development Corp. asked for a six-month extension to finalize a definitive deal with its Chinese partners for developing the Alaska LNG liquefaction plant and pipeline project, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Jan. 2. The state-run corporation signed an agreement in October 2018 with China Petrochemical Corp., CIC Capital Corp. and Bank of China Ltd. committing to make a final agreement for the project by Dec. 31, 2018.
BP Energy Partners buys controlling stake in small-scale LNG company
Private equity firm BP Energy Partners LLC acquired a controlling interest in and made an additional capital commitment to Cryopeak LNG Solutions Corp. in an effort to support the regional LNG provider's growth plans. Under the deal, Cryopeak will be a portfolio company of BP Energy Partners' second private equity fund, BP Natural Gas Opportunity Partners II LP, according to a Jan. 8 news release.