American Gas - April 2013 - (Page 23)

With the U.S. poised to become a major player in LNG, the industry’s world conference comes to America By gary james and richard sine T ridinG the wAve he first LNG world conference, hosted by the Gas Technology Institute, was held in Chicago in 1968. At the time, the entire global trade in LNG consisted of Algeria producing it and shipping it to France and the United Kingdom, says David Carroll, current CEO of the Institute. My, how things have changed. In 2007, when the organizing committee chose Houston for LNG 17, no one had anticipated the potential of the shale gas boom. So it’s pure serendipity that 16,000 decision makers from 80 countries will be attending the world’s largest gas conference at the epicenter of what Carroll calls “the shale gas revolution.” “This dramatic increase in shale gas has really captured the world’s attention,” Carroll tells American Gas. Delegates from elsewhere are “looking to invest in U.S. resources, companies, and assets to get a piece of the action, to learn how shale gas is developed, and migrate those business practices and technologies around the world.” At the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston from April 16 to 19, the world’s foremost energy experts will discuss the latest global trends, challenges, and opportunities facing LNG today. “Houston has long been recognized as the energy capital of the world, so it’s very fitting that LNG 17 is being held in this city,” says David M. McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy, a domestic energy delivery company headquartered in Houston, and co-chair of the Houston Host Committee. “Natural gas is one of the fastest growing energy sectors in the world. There is a lot of confidence in America’s natural gas resource base and its ability to satisfy both existing demand and new markets for many years to come. This conference provides a great platform to learn about trends and investment opportunities, and gain insight into the future of the LNG industry.” “The LNG industry is the fastestgrowing segment of the energy industry around the world,” says Jay Copan, executive director of LNG 17 and senior adviser to the American Gas Association, the host association. “Global oil is growing at about 0.9 percent per annum, and global gas is growing at about 2 percent. But global LNG is growing at a rate of 4.5 percent, and the industry is literally doubling itself every eight years. The number of importing countries has doubled, the number of producing countries has doubled, and projected growth is robust.” The International Energy Agency estimated LNG’s share of the global gas supply in 2010 at 9 percent, Copan says. By 2030, it’s projected to account for 15 percent, according to a new report by the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions and Deloitte MarketPoint. New LNG projects and applications are being announced daily around the world (see map, page 24). Meanwhile, the potential applications for LNG are also expanding rapidly, especially in transportation, where LNG holds tremendous promise for trucking, marine transport, and aviation. New distribution and delivery systems are being developed in the United States, Europe, Canada, and elsewhere. “LNG is on the cusp of a big push to replace imported oil,” says Steve Cittadine, president of storage and fuels for AGL Resources, who oversees the company’s Pivotal LNG subsidiary. “The two drivers are the competitiveness of LNG on an energy basis versus diesel and oil products, and the environmental benefits of natural gas.” The Strategic Imperative Along with the traditional focus on the latest technical and commercial issues at LNG, this year, for the first time, the conference also will include sessions covering strategic and regulatory matters, Copan says. These include six “spotlight sessions” on the global outlook for LNG, the North American LNG market, the role of Russia, potential growth markets for LNG, the opportunities for LNG to stimulate economic development, and technological innovation and infrastructure. One hot topic is the outlook for U.S. april 2013 AmericAn GAs 23

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - April 2013

American Gas - April 2013
Contents
President's Message
Subject Index
LNG Sports Car: Racing Toward Acceptance
Digest
Issues
Updates
Need to Know
By the Numbers
People and Places
Water, Water Anywhere
Asia
State House
State House
Elm Street
LNG: Riding the Wave
Beyond the Headlines
Profile
Crisis Management
Jobs
Buyer's Guide: Mapping and GIS
Marketplace
Headway

American Gas - April 2013