If ExxonMobil Corp. has its way, it could be exporting natural gas from the United States and Canada to overseas markets, after the supermajor on Wednesday filed for permission to export 30 million metric tons a year (mmty) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the west coast of British Columbia (BC).

The Irving, TX-based operator, now the largest natural gas producer in North America, said in an export license application with the National Energy Board that it is assessing potential construction sites in the Kitimat and Prince Rupert, BC areas for an LNG facility that would include six processing units. The project would be a partnership with its majority-owned Canadian subsidiary Imperial Oil Ltd.

If all goes as scheduled, gas exports could begin in the 2021 to 2023 time frame, the filing indicated.

The BC venture, to be known as WCC LNG Ltd., would be supplied with gas from Western Canada fields. During the life of the project, gas also could be sourced from other North American basins.

Last month ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), which are sponsoring the proposed Golden Pass Products LNG terminal in Sabine Pass, TX, launched pre-filing for their proposed 15 mmty project (see Daily GPI, May 17; May 10). Golden Pass already has the right to export to free-trade agreement countries and is awaiting approval to export to countries without the agreements.

QPI, which is a leading LNG exporter, in April announced a memorandum of understanding with ExxonMobil to jointly evaluate North America’s unconventional natural gas and associated liquids resources, as well as global opportunities for LNG (see Daily GPI, April 16).

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