Consumption

Options to address New England’s natural gas capacity demand and other options to address the region’s electricity reliability needs through 2030 will be the focus of a study announced Monday by Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Maura Healey.

Options to address New England's natural gas capacity demand and other options to address the region's electricity reliability needs through 2030 will be the focus of a study announced Monday by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

As China works to reduce its reliance on coal and looks to a cleaner energy future, the role that U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) could play in the market is huge. But for now, the U.S. LNG industry is in disarray and offers as much risk as opportunity, according to a U.S.-based PetroChina executive.

Weather from October to February east of the Rocky Mountains was significantly colder than last winter — and colder than the average for the past 10 years — and the resulting surge in natural gas consumption will drive working inventories at the end of March down to 965 Bcf, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). But don’t expect higher natural gas prices, the agency said.

Weather from October to February east of the Rocky Mountains was significantly colder than last winter — and colder than the average for the past 10 years — and the resulting surge in natural gas consumption will drive working inventories at the end of March down to 965 Bcf, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). But don’t expect higher natural gas prices, the agency said.

The latest estimates from several sources indicate that fossil fuel subsidies globally are growing, ranging from $523 billion to more than $1.9 trillion, according to a Worldwatch Institute research fellow. Subsidy levels have rebounded back to 2008 levels, according to Philipp Tagwerker.

Mexico and liquefied natural gas exports are expected to contribute to demand by the end of the decade.

Natural gas will remain the most affordable heating option for most residential customers this winter, with mild temperatures expected to keep any increase in gas bills at no more than 5-10% compared with last winter, according to the American Gas Association (AGA).

ExxonMobil Corp. has 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) (see related story). The Irving, TX-based operator 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. In May ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum International, which are sponsoring the proposed Golden Pass Products LNG terminal in Sabine Pass, TX, launched pre-filing for their proposed 15 mmty project (see NGI, May 20).