Through further investments in LNG for Transport, Shell plans to utilize North American natural gas to provide an innovative and cost-effective fuel for its commercial customers. Shell and its affiliates plan to bring liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel one step closer for its marine and heavy-duty on-road customers in North America by taking a final investment decision on two small-scale liquefaction units. These two units will form the basis of two new LNG transport corridors in the Great Lakes and Gulf Coast regions.
This decision follows an investment decision in 2011 on a similar LNG corridor in Alberta, Canada.
“Natural gas is an abundant and cleaner-burning energy source in North America, and Shell is leveraging its LNG expertise and integrated strength to make LNG a viable fuel option for the commercial market,” said Marvin Odum, President, Shell Oil Company. “We are investing now in the infrastructure that will allow us to bring this innovative and cost-competitive fuel to our customers.”
In the Gulf Coast Corridor, Shell plans to install a small-scale liquefaction unit (0.25 million tons per annum) at its Shell Geismar Chemicals facility in Geismar, Louisiana, in the United States. Once operational, this unit will supply LNG along the Mississippi River, the Intra-Coastal Waterway and to the offshore Gulf of Mexico and the onshore oil and gas exploration areas of Texas and Louisiana. To service oil and gas and other industrial customers in Texas and Louisiana, Shell is expanding its existing relationship with fuels and lubricants re-seller Martin Energy Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Martin Resource Management Corporation (MRMC). MRMC and its publicly traded affiliate, Martin Midstream Partners L.P. will provide terminalling, storage, transportation and distribution of LNG.
Shell has a memorandum of understanding with Edison Chouest Offshore companies (ECO) to supply LNG fuel to marine vessels that operate in the Gulf of Mexico and to provide what is anticipated to be the first LNG barging and bunkering operation in North America at Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The LNG transport barges will move the fuel from the Geismar production site to Port Fourchon where it will be bunkered into customer vessels.
In the Great Lakes Corridor, Shell plans to install a small-scale liquefaction unit (0.25 million tons per annum) at its Shell Sarnia Manufacturing Centre in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Once operational, this project will supply LNG fuel to all five Great Lakes, their bordering U.S. states and Canadian provinces and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Interlake Steamship Company is expected to be the first marine customer in this region, as it begins the conversion of its vessels.
Pending final regulatory permitting, these two new liquefaction units are expected to begin operations and production in about three years. Cooling natural gas to around -162°C (-260°F) turns it into a liquid and shrinks its volume for easier shipment and storage.
Shell’s engagement with LNG
Shell has chartered three dual-fuel offshore support vessels (STX SV310DF) from Harvey Gulf International Marine utilizing Wärtsilä engine and LNG system technology. These vessels will be used to support Shell’s operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Shell has begun to transition many of its onshore drilling rigs and hydraulic fracturing spreads to LNG. These conversions can reduce fuel costs and local emissions.
Shell is exploring ways to broaden the use of LNG, from the traditional power generation sector to fuelling more of the world’s growing commercial transport fleets and vessels. LNG also has the potential to be used in sectors such as rail and mining.
Shell bought Gasnor, an LNG fuel company in Norway that supplies industrial and marine operators, mid-2012.
Shell also plans to charter the first inland barges to run purely on LNG, which will sail on the Rhine in 2013.
Shell has focused its attention to date on the large-truck sector in both Canada and the USA. The company is working to supply LNG along a truck route in Alberta, Canada, starting with three sites.
It is also intend to work with TravelCenters of America to provide LNG for truck fleets at truck stops across the USA.
(Source: Shell)
