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T he Louisiana Gulf is gearing up to export lique- fi ed natural gas from Sabine Pass and Lake Charles in the state’s southwest and Plaquemines Parish in the southeast. Over the next fi ve years, as LNG import terminals begin exporting and new terminals are built, more tugs and channel pilots will be needed, industry ex- perts said last month. A convoy system will be employed to handle outgoing and incoming tankers. Safety rules for the region’s waterways are also almost certain to be revised. The nation’s only LNG export terminal is run by Con- ocoPhillips in Kenai, Alaska. But that’s about to change. Cheniere’s Sabine Pass LNG facility in Cameron Parish should be Louisiana’s fi rst exporter, starting in late 2015. Natural gas from fracking Haynesville shale in northwest Louisiana, the state’s pipeline network and existing LNG import terminals, along with currently weak gas prices, have spurred fi rms to consider exports. Just what makes LNG suitable for export? When natu- ral gas is chilled to minus 259 degrees Fahrenheit, or mi- nus162 Centigrade, it becomes a liquid that’s more effi cient to store and ship. Liquefi ed natural gas is about 1/600th the volume of natural gas. Buyers in Japan (moving away from nuclear power), China (slowly weaning from heavy use of coal), other Asian nations, Europe and Latin Amer- ica are thirsty for it. The ongoing dispute between Russia, Ukraine and the EU also hold out possibilities for more outlets for U.S. LNG exports. Calcasieu Shipping Channel Revs Up For More Vessels “Calcasieu River channel traffi c – including LNG tank- ers, oil tankers and tugs – is expected to double by the year 2025,” Stephen Broussard, Director of West Cameron Port, said last month. The channel runs from mile-marker zero at the Calcasieu jetties up 52 miles to Lake Charles, La. Broussard added, “The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is approving LNG projects in a process that takes more than a year. At least seven LNG export projects, either in the Calcasieu channel or utilizing it, are in various stages of planning. They are SCT&E LNG; Waller Point LNG; Venture Global, LLC--with the latter to be called Calcasieu LNG; Trunkline LNG; Magnolia LNG; Cam- eron LNG and Gasfi n Development.” “In addition, Sasol is expanding and building a huge WORKBOAT MARKETS Future LNG Exports to Impact Traffi c,uture LNG Exports to Impact raffi c, Tug Requirementsug Requirements Workboat requirements will soar as heightened safety requirements for LNG transit demand tighter oversight. By Susan Buchanan November 2014 76 MN MN Nov14 Layout 66-81.indd 76 10/23/2014 10:47:56 AM
