An Asian plan for the next British Columbia (BC) natural gas export terminal, Woodfibre LNG, has landed BP Gas Marketing Ltd. as its second customer with a deal that does double duty by contributing to project supplies too.

A 15-year contract with the BP Gas unit calls for liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales of about 100 MMcf/d that would begin in 2023. Project owner Pacific Oil & Gas Ltd. (PO&G) said a supply agreement also is developing with a corporate affiliate of the new customer, BP Canada Energy Group.

The BP deal follows a spring takeover by Singapore-based PO&G of private Calgary gas producer Canbriam Energy Inc., which currently taps the prolific Montney formation for 200 MMcf/d.

China’s CNOOC Gas and Power Trading & Marketing Ltd. has committed to take about half of the new terminal’s planned exports starting in 2023. The C$1.6 billion ($1.2 billion) project has a Canadian gas export license for 2.1 million metric tons/year of LNG, or 260 MMcf/d. BC utility FortisBC is providing pipeline service.

Woodfibre LNG also cleared a BC public approval hurdle last fall by achieving a cooperation and benefits agreement with the aboriginal community next to the planned terminal on a former site of a pulp mill north of Vancouver.

Said Woodfibre President David Keane, “PO&G has made significant investments in Canadian natural gas because they are confident in the future of LNG in Canada.”