Liquefaction

The return of Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin has been heralded as something of a retrograde step in the development and liberalisation of Russia’s economy.

The Obama administration has stated that it is not opposed to exporting US LNG, although its opinion will depend upon official analysis used to determine whether more LNG export projects should go ahead.

Chesapeake Energy Corp has announced that it has received a loan worth US$ 3 billion from Goldman Sachs and Jeffries Group that should provide the company with short-term financial flexibility. The company’s CEO, Aubrey McClendon continues to face intense scrutiny over his financial activity.

Chevron and Tohoku Electric have signed a preliminary agreement to sell 1 million tpy of LNG to the company for 20 years.

Siemens Energy has been awarded a long-term service contract for 16 gas turbines spread across three Santos GLNG sites.

Leighton Contractors has won the US$ 93 million EPC contract from JKC Australia LNG Pty Ltd for Temporary site works at Blaydin Point, Darwin.

GDF Suez has signed an agreement with Sempra which will allow it access to 4 million toy of liquefaction capacity at Cameron LNG from 2016.

Gladstone LNG, the coal seam gas to LNG project led by Santos, has signed an agreement with Origin Energy to supply feed gas for liquefaction into LNG.

Woodside has accepted an offer from Japan Australia LNG (MIMI Browse) Pty Ltd. to purchase a 14.7% interest in Browse LNG for US$ 2 billion.

Woodside Petroleum has begun production from its Pluto LNG project in Western Australia and will load its first cargo of LNG today.

Wood Group Mustang has been awarded the topsides detailed engineering and procurement support for the semi-submersible production facility, which will operate in the offshore field.

Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. have started negotiation with Dominion to conclude a final terminal service (TSA) agreement with Dominion to export shale derived LNG from the Cove Point LNG terminal.

Chart energy & Chemicals has won a contract worth US$ 40 million to supply heat exchangers to an LNG project in Eastern Australia.

The Sierra Club, a leading environmentalist group in North America, has filed a formal protest with the US DOE about Cameron LNG’s proposals to export LNG from its Lake Charles facility. The group has previously opposed four other LNG export plants.

Thiess has won the contract to perform the groundwork for the downstream section of the Wheatstone LNG project.