More global natural gas export projects are likely to be sanctioned this year and beyond, fueled by a “growing appetite” for long-term purchase agreements, Baker Hughes Co. CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said Thursday.

The world’s No. 2 oilfield services (OFS) company unveiled its fourth quarter and 2021 results, with Simonelli helming a conference call. No. 1 OFS operator, Schlumberger Ltd., issues its results Friday, with No. 3 Halliburton Co. set to unveil results Monday.

Orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and OFS equipment continued to accelerate in the final three months, with overall orders up 28% year/year and 24% from 3Q2021 to $6.7 billion. 

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