Strategic evaluation central to LNG project formation
- Poten and Partners Inc., New York, NY (United States)
- Merlin Associates, Atlanta, GA (United States)
- Merlin Associates, Houston, TX (United States)
An efficient-scale, grassroots LNG facility of about 6 million metric tons/year capacity requires a prestart-up outlay of $5 billion or more for the supply facilities--production, feedgas pipeline, liquefaction, and shipping. The demand side of the LNG chain requires a similar outlay, counting the import-regasification terminal and a combination of 5 gigawatts or more of electric power generation or the equivalent in city gas and industrial gas-using facilities. There exist no well-developed commodity markets for free-on-board (fob) or delivered LNG. A new LNG supply project is dedicated to its buyers. Indeed, the buyers` revenue commitment is the project`s only bankable asset. For the buyer to make this commitment, the supply venture`s capability and commitment must be credible: to complete the project and to deliver the LNG reliably over the 20+ years required to recover capital committed on both sides. This requirement has technical, economic, and business dimensions. In this article the authors describe a LNG project evaluation system and show its application to typical tasks: project cost of service and participant shares; LNG project competition; alternative project structures; and market competition for LNG-supplied electric power generation.
- OSTI ID:
- 78430
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 27 Vol. 93; ISSN 0030-1388; ISSN OIGJAV
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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