Liquefied Natural Gas Phase III: Export Competition in a Well Supplied, Flow-Shifting Global Economy

With trillions of cubic feet of shale reserves, the United States’ (US) abundance of natural gas has prompted an increase in production of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as an export commodity. While the Trump administration is taking strides to loosen policy set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to streamline US LNG export facility permitting, UNOTI has reasoned that policy focused too heavily on LNG as an export is misguided. A more robust energy policy acknowledges the higher value of natural gas to the petrochemical manufacturing industries as well as the development and commercialization of new LNG technologies in the maritime industry, particularly as a marine fuel. Furthermore, US energy independence fueled by shale mining could potentially alter how the US acts in the global market place, thereby destabilizing the system in place since the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1944. However, competing natural gas rich nations like Australia, Qatar, and Russia have similar goals to expand production indicating US LNG export growth will not be without competition. In addition to potential increases in US LNG exports and what this implies for global markets, this paper discusses current transportation developments in LNG powered marine vessel refueling technology allowing for waterside refueling as an alternative to shore side bunkering, as well as an overview of what increased US shale frac’ing and LNG export implies for US roadway infrastructure and how short sea shipping may provide an alternative to trucking and rail movements.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $110277
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747130

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center

  University of Arkansas
  Fayetteville, AR  United States  72701
• Performing Organizations:

  University of New Orleans Transportation Institute

  368 Milneburg Hall
  2000 Lakeshore Drive
  New Orleans, Louisiana  United States  70148
• Principal Investigators:

  Stich, Bethany

• Start Date: 20180301
• Expected Completion Date: 20191231
• Actual Completion Date: 20191231
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Competition; Exports; Freight traffic; Highways; Hydraulic fracturing; Liquefied natural gas; Market assessment; Refueling; Ships; Short sea shipping
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Freight Transportation; Highways; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01664964
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747130
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 30 2018 12:20PM