Cross-currents buffet world LNG trade

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 1976 · Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7186091

Anderson, P J; Daniels, E J

World trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG) is estimated at from 3.89 to 9.21 trillion ft/sup 3//d by the mid- to late-1980s. Since early 1975 an increase in the U.S. LNG trade and a decrease in Europe's LNG trade have been observed. The U.S. increase is attributed primarily to the development of Alaskan projects. The change in European trade is attributed to (1) change in status of the SAGAPE project, which accounted for about 0.60 trillion ft/sup 3//yr of the 1974 assessment of an existing and committed European trade of 1.04 trillion ft/sup 3//yr; and (2) a reevaluation of the potential sources of LNG for Europe. Other factors account for the differences in the estimates: (1) even though increases in energy prices in the past year boosted the viability of some LNG schemes, recent indications are that the price of oil has nearly peaked out and that the stimulus once provided for LNG will readjust; (2) demand for gas in the U.S. and Europe has increased faster than the discovery of additions to indigenous reserves; (3) although European gas companies have shown interest in LNG imports, Europe is also reevaluating LNG imports because of price increases by the exporting country (i.e., the current status of SAGAPE); (4) many exporting countries are beginning to consider using natural gas to develop their own petrochemical industries and are therefore less likely to enter into long-term agreements to export LNG; and (5) although the demand for gas in Japan is continuing to rise, a revised energy forecast by Japan's Institute of Energy indicates that Japan will be importing about 1.57 trillion ft/sup 3//yr in 1985. (From Introduction)

• Research Organization: Inst. of Gas Tech., Chicago
• OSTI ID: 7186091
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 83:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
03 NATURAL GAS
EUROPE
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
TRADE
USA
CHARGES
ENERGY POLICY
FORECASTING
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MARKET
RESERVES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
294003* - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas
032000 - Natural Gas- Transport
Handling
& Storage