North Dakota builds first LNG plant

The US state of North Dakota is building a small scale LNG plant, North Dakota LNG, LLC, (NDLNG) a subsidiary of Prairie Companies, announced.The plant, which will be the first LNG plant in the state, will be located in Tioga with the capacity to produce 10 000 gal./d by mid-2014. A phase two facility is also planned for Q4 2014. This would be able to produce 66 000 gal./d. NDLNG’s target market will be the drilling, fracking and transportation sectors in the Bakken in neighboring state Montana and North Dakota itself.

Patrick Hughes, CEO at North Dakota LNG, said: “North Dakota LNG is proud to announce it will be the first LNG liquefaction plant in operation for North Dakota. This historic venture will allow NDLNG to quickly provide oil and gas operators in the Bakken and across North Dakota with a cost-effective and reliable source of alternative fuel, thereby reducing operating expenses, while also creating new markets for value-added natural gas fuel produced in the State.”

Important role

“This is an exciting day for North Dakota,” said North Dakota’s governor Jack Dalrymple. “NDLNG’s state-of-the-art processing facility will play an important role in efforts to convert natural gas feedstock into value-added liquid fuels, foster more cost-effective unconventional shale development operations and support our nation’s desire to reduce its dependence on foreign fuel sources,” he said. “We appreciate NDLNG’s investment in our state’s energy industry and support them in their venture to move North Dakota’s rich natural gas resources to market”.

Construction and implementation

The plant is being constructed by LNG value chain experts Plum Energy and the implementation of liquefaction technology will be overseen by Houston-based SST Process Solutions. "We are delighted to assist in bringing cleaner burning, lower cost and locally produced LNG into the North Dakota market," said Kirt Montague, CEO of Plum.

"Not only will this project materially reduce fuel costs for operators and other businesses in the State, but it also will meaningfully lower levels of harmful emissions, while providing long-term, wage-scale jobs and employment opportunities in the region," Montague added.

Edited from various sources by Ted Monroe

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/08052014/north_dakota_lng_builds_first_lng_plant_at_tioga/