Shell proposes Gulf Landing terminal

Shell US Gas & Power LLC plans to expand its growing US position in liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the development of a major new import terminal in the Gulf of Mexico by its subsidiary Gulf Landing LLC.

The proposed Gulf Landing terminal is expected to be operational in 2008-09, with the capacity to deliver one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day into the US interstate pipeline network.

Shell is filing an application under the Deepwater Port Act for a license authorising the construction and operation of the proposed LNG storage and regasification facility to be located 38 miles offshore Louisiana in West Cameron Block 213.

'Gulf Landing is our first application for a Shell-operated LNG terminal in the US,' said Gus Noojin, President of Shell US Gas & Power LLC. 'The new terminal will supplement our sizeable capacity positions at existing US LNG terminals and will make an important contribution to long-term US natural gas supply.'

Gulf Landing will be a concrete, gravity-based structure, which will be floated to the site and lowered to rest on the seafloor in about 55 feet of water. The facility will include a berth for mooring LNG carriers, LNG storage and regasification facilities, and pipelines to connect with existing natural gas pipeline systems in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf Landing natural gas output will be delivered into as many as five major interstate pipelines serving Louisiana and parts of the US Southeast, Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

'Locating an LNG terminal in the established Gulf of Mexico natural gas producing area optimises the existing transportation network and offsets future production declines from natural gas fields,' said Noojin. 'However, new LNG terminals are needed in other regions of the US to meet natural gas demand growth.'