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Low gas prices, LNG need in spotlight at Gastech conference

Top energy executives and ministers will meet in Houston this week for the yearly Gastech conference, with U.S. markets in focus as growing melted gas (LNG) exports help wean Europe off Russian gas and as Asia moves away from coal.

The U.S., when an importer of LNG, has actually gone beyond Qatar as the world's top exporter, with brand-new innovation allowing America's. shale manufacturers to tap huge reserves. Both countries have. significant LNG expansion jobs underway, playing higher. value in international markets from Europe to Asia.

The conference comes to the U.S. for the first time considering that. 2019 as the country has also become the world's greatest natural. gas producer. U.S. gas production grew 4% in 2015 to. 125 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). Exports of the. super-cooled gas leapt 12% to 11.9 Bcf/d.

Gastech expects to host some 50,000 guests from 125. countries, with sessions on everything from gas markets and. decarbonization to Expert system (AI) and energy. security.

Surging supply has actually pressed U.S. gas prices to

multi-decade lows

this year, hampering producers but benefiting consumers and. LNG companies

using record quantities

of gas.

By 2026, U.S. LNG exports should be double their 2024. levels, with annual feed gas requirements averaging 19.7 Bcf/d. in 2 years' time, stated Matthew Palmer, executive director at. S&P Global Product Insights.

Gas prices will be significantly higher in. 2025 as new LNG export jobs boost demand, stated Jim Simpson,. CEO of energy research study company, East Daley Analytics.

In the U.S., brand-new export capability development will support. Europe's dedication to divest away from Russian gas following. its intrusion of Ukraine, while using Asian buyers a greener. option for power generation.

Venture Global, whose CEO, Mike Sabel will talk to. attendees about the function of LNG in Europe's energy supply mix,. is amongst those companies. The business's Plaquemines LNG export. center in Louisiana will have an export capability of as much as 20. million metric tonnes per year, and is expected to start. operations this year.

The U.S. exported some 7.48 million metric lots of

LNG in August

, approximately 43% of which went to Asia, according to LSEG data.

GAS MANUFACTURERS BID THEIR TIME

U.S. shale gas companies are banking on brand-new LNG terminals to. boost their market and rates. Poor returns have actually forced some to. cut production this year.

The next 9 months have more opportunity of being. over-supplied than under-supplied since the LNG projects do. not arrive in force up until late next year, stated the president of. Aegis Hedging, Matt Marshall.

U.S. producers typically need Henry Hub natural gas. prices above $3 per million British thermals units (mmBtu) to. produce cash flow for more drilling, stated S&P Global's Palmer. Gas rates are currently around $2.33 per mmBtu and have only. traded above $3 a few times this year.

Henry Center gas prices are expected to average $2.19 per. mmBtu this year, the U.S. Energy Info Administration. ( EIA) stated today in a regular monthly report, lowering its estimate. by 11 cents from the prior forecast.

The general story here is that a manufacturer of natural. gas needs to not expect this market to turn outrageously bullish. with the turn of the year. It is going to require time and this. market is susceptible to lower costs actually until next summer season,. stated Aegis' Marshall.

Significant U.S. manufacturers, consisting of Chesapeake and EQT. were preparing to reduce production and defer well. conclusions in the 2nd half of 2024 in August, after prices. sank nearly 40% over the two months prior.

As those brand-new LNG projects come online and take in more shale. gas, costs are anticipated to enhance. The U.S. EIA is. forecasting an average Henry Hub cost of $3.14 next year.

Our expectation is that as LNG exports increase, the. market will return to stability, moving Henry Hub into the. $ 3-4/ MMBtu variety that will support a boost in production,. said Marshall.

(source: Reuters)