Overview

With densely populated markets demanding more natural gas, suppliers are trying to innovate creative solutions to import LNG while safely maintaining setback distances beyond the sight and concern of local residents. As a result, numerous designs for offshore LNG terminals are emerging. These designs range from manmade islands (gravity-based systems) that avoid the complexity of transferring LNG from one pitching vessel to another, to floating units with several hundred thousand cubic meters of LNG storage using various ship-to-ship transfer systems, to rapid-discharge mooring systems designed to work with underground storage, to modified ships with the capability to serve multiple markets as peak demands change from season to season.

With the emergence of so many conceivable offshore terminal approaches, Zeus Development Corporation is conducting an industry survey to profile each, examine its unique characteristics and economic implications, consider the staging of commercial readiness, and the implications for the gas markets where they are proposed.

As part of this research, Zeus will conduct an industry conference June 19 and 20 to review the designs; discuss their capabilities with engineers, equipment suppliers, government regulators and project developers; examine the major subsystems; outline permitting and safety issues; and consider the economics and timing for having these alternative concepts ready for implementation. The conference will be held in Houston at the Houston Marriott West Loop by the Galleria.

After the conference, Zeus will investigate key open issues identified during the meeting more thoroughly to assemble its research into a final report for distribution to the participants. The final report will be distributed in September.

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