[en] The LNG industry has entered a new step of its development, faster and more complex. The time parameter, the huge investments and the uncertainties relative to the demand growth are some of the factors that control its evolution. How the emergence of 'international price' signals will influence this activity? What supply-demand status can be foreseen from now to 2015? What role LNG would be able to play in terms of modulation management? What are the impacts of environmental constraints on LNG infrastructures? These are the different points discussed during this workshop by the five participants, specialists of the LNG questions. (J.S.)

[en] This paper discussed the barriers and drivers for the implementation of biorefinery technology in the forestry industry. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology was used by a panel of industry experts. The objective, drivers and barriers, and the decision structure and weighting procedure were established during a pre-panel phase. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was then applied to compare qualitative criteria. Pair-wise criteria were used to determine the importance of each driver and barrier. Drivers for the implementation of biorefineries included the opportunity to ensure short-term profitability; the provision of raw materials at competitive prices; potential financial incentives; and the opportunity to transform the forestry business model and increase its market value. Barriers included uncertainty in relation to government policies for biorefineries; high technology risks; the need for partnerships; and the fact that many industry members favour short-term decision-making. Results of the study showed that the most significant barrier was related to risk. 5 refs., 3 tabs., 3 figs.

[en] The International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL) is a non-profit organization founded in December of 1971. It is composed of 56 member companies from 18 different countries across the world and involved in the importation of Liquefied Natural Gas. The main objective of the GIIGNL is to promote the development of activities related to LNG: purchasing, importing, processing, transportation, handling, re-gasification and various uses of LNG. For this purpose, the GIIGNL is particularly involved in promoting the state-of-the art technology in the LNG industry, in communicating about the economic fundamentals of the industry, in enhancing facility operations, in diversifying contractual techniques, and in developing industry positions to be taken in international agencies. As a member of the IOPC Fund since June 2007, the GIIGNL prepared this LNG overview in order to offer a better understanding to state delegations about this specific product and its market and to contribute to the debate on the implementation of the HNS Convention. the first chapter constitutes an introduction to the LNG Industry: presentation of an LNG Chain, overview of the global LNG trade and its growth rate, type of contracts, LNG tankers and technical transportation constraints, liquefaction and re-gasification plants around the world. The second chapter focuses on some singularities of the LNG industry that differentiate LNG from other Hazardous and Noxious Substances: LNG, a clean and unique product and activity, high standards and firm regulations concerning security and maritime safety, high level of investment required for an LNG chain, DES and FOB, the fundamental Incoterms of LNG sales and purchase. The third chapter presents the HNS Convention as potentially applicable to the LNG market: a two tier compensation regime - a new perspective for the LNG industry, a potential impact on LNG sales and purchase agreements, the importance of global HNS ratification within LNG countries. The last chapter concludes with the GIIGNL proposals regarding the LNG contribution to the HNS Fund issue: the GIIGNL contribution to the IOPC Fund Assembly from 2007, the purpose of the IOPC Fund HNS Focus Group and the new Protocol proposal (which would amend the Convention regarding the LNG contribution), the potential solutions explored by the GIIGNL regarding the LNG contribution issue and in particular the GIIGNL proposal for this issue

[en] Minimizing investment in oilfield development is an important subject that has attracted a considerable amount of industry attention. One method to reduce investment involves the optimal placement and selection of production facilities. Because of the large amount of capital used in this process, saving a small percent of the total investment may represent a large monetary value. The literature reports algorithms using mathematical programming techniques that were designed to solve the proposed problem in a global optimal manner. Owing to the high-computational complexity and the lack of user-friendly interfaces for data entry and results display, mathematical programming techniques have not been given enough attention in practice. This paper describes an interactive, graphical software system that provides a global optimal solution to the problem of placement and selection of production facilities in oil-field development processes. This software system can be used as an investment minimization tool and a scenario-study simulator. The developed software system consists of five basic modules: (1) an interactive data-input unit, (2) a cost function generator, (3) an optimization unit, (4) a graphic-output display, and (5) a sensitivity-analysis unit

[en] Natural gas is an abundant energy source but reserves are more and more located far away from consuming markets. This situation leads to an increased demand in LNG and to a rise of prices which corresponds to the massive investment made by gas producers and LNG plant operators to increase their production capacity. Today's challenge of Total Group is to anticipate the future LNG demand, to increase its gas reserves, and to increase its production and gasification capacities. (J.S.)

[en] The US LNG market represents today only 15 million tons per year but it is growing up rapidly and should reach 75 million tons per year in the next ten years. According to Cambridge Energy Research, LNG imports will represent 18% of the US gas resources in 2015 with respect to 3% today, and in 2010 LNG will represent 30% of the world natural gas trade. For these reasons, the Suez group has planned to acquire two offshore gas terminals, i.e. LNG tanker ships fitted with a gasification plant, to supply its Everett terminal on the US East coast and a future terminal in Florida. In both cases, the investment is the same as for an onshore terminal facility. Short paper. (J.S.)

[en] CEDIGAZ proposes this new survey about LNG in view of the main changes which have occurred on this market during the past few years. Several projects under construction or planned three years ago are now commissioned (Qatargas) or on the verge of starting to export this year (Trinidad LNG, RasGas, Nigeria LNG) or next years (Oman LNG). The Asian crisis, which had major impacts on both short-term demand in Asia and LNG prices, has brought about new uncertainties to the long-term prospects. At the same time, it now seems more and more certain that firstly India and then China will import LNG in the next decade. It remains to be seen at what level and when this will occur. LNG growth in Europe has now become a reality, and new potential markets, for example in South America (Brazil), are also being considered as real opportunities in the near future. Considering these 'new' trends, an updated study about LNG appeared necessary. This survey 'World LNG Outlook - 99 Edition' is organised as the previous one: a historical record since 1964 (Chapter 1) followed by a description of the infrastructures existing in 1998 (Chapter 2). The analysis continues with world trade prospects by the year 2010 (Chapters 3 to 5). Chapter 6 describes the future LNG chain and the last Chapter (7) focuses on economic matters (LNG price trends, cost reductions). The study 'World LNG Outlook - 99 Edition' offers hence a comprehensive panorama of this sector from a short and long-term point of view. (author)

[en] This paper gathers 5 presentations given at the 2003 gas congress of Paris about the network management activity. The first presentation presents the point of view of the commission of energy regulation (CRE) about the opening of the gas market, the tariffing of gas network access, the transparency about the available capacities, the opening of the professionals market to competition and the works in progress. The second presentation deals with the evolution of the gas transport activity in Germany. The third presentation presents the EASEE-gas association for the development of common commercial practices in the European gas market. The forth presentation treats of the evolution of the Spanish gas distribution market, while the last presentation presents the evolution of the liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) sector with the example of the supply of Hiddensee island in the Baltic sea. (J.S.)

[en] The issue of refinery capacity in North America was discussed along with a review of factors influencing the need for added refinery capacity. The paper notes that while North America needs more refining capacity, the announced expansions provide adequate capacity only through 2005. By 2010 it is expected that North America will need an incremental 1.28 million B/SD of crude oil distillation capacity and an incremental 1.30 B/SD of conversion capacity. The economy and product demand growth are the 2 main factors influencing refinery capacity requirements. It was noted that no new refinery facilities will be needed since additional investments can be made in existing facilities because refinery utilization has improved and spare capacity still exists. The drivers for refined product demand growth were described as being economic growth which is directly linked to refined product demand growth, and demand offsets. A review of refined products demand growth for gasoline, diesel and residual fuel oil showed that East Coast gasoline imports from Europe will increase faster than the growth in demand as Europe's gasoline surplus grows with the continued shift to diesel as the primary transportation fuel. Imports of all other refined products are expected to grow at rate of demand growth. Exporting countries will maintain the market share in North America. The trend for shifting world oil supplies to heavier, higher sulphur crudes and non-conventional crude oil means that more conversion investment will be needed to process the crude through methods such as fluidized catalytic cracking, hydrocracking and coking. 8 figs

[en] About 9% of the world's oil refining capacity is on the Mediterranean: some of the world's biggest and most advanced refineries are on Sicily and Sardinia. The Mediterranean refineries are important suppliers to southern Europe and N. Africa. The article discusses commercial refining in the Mediterranean under the headings of (i) historic development, (ii) product demand, (iii) refinery configurations, (iv) refined product trade, (v) financial performance and (vi) future outlook. Although some difficulties are foreseen, refining in the Mediterranean is likely to continue to be important well into the 21st century. (UK)