Conducted by and for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, and touted as the “biggest global gas event in 2013,” the 17th International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG 17), held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, April 16–19, lived up to its billing.
The event was hosted by the American Gas Association (AGA), under the auspices of the International Gas Union (IGU), Gas Technology Institute (GTI), and International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR). Over 4,000 delegates from 33 countries attended LNG 17 to hear from more than 300 speakers and to visit the booths and equipment displays of more than 340 exhibitors. The conference explored the role of natural gas in a carbon-constrained world, looked at key topics like US gas exports and LNG for transportation, and discussed other related issues that the industry faces.
The LNG series of events began in 1968 and is held every three years, alternating between producer and consumer nations. LNG 18 will take place in Perth, Australia in April 2016 and Beijing, China will host LNG 19 in 2019.
The abundance of natural gas, which has resulted from the development of new horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques, made this an important show. With increasing unconventional shale gas production, the US is transitioning from being a net importer of natural gas to a net exporter. An early ramp-up of unconventional gas production will make the United States a net gas exporter two years earlier than previously expected, creating an estimated 1.3 million new job opportunities in a global trade environment. New US supply will permit gas to be diverted to Asia and Europe where demand is increasing. According to LNG 17 organizers, “China is projected to double its gas demand between now and 2025, while Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia are also expected to step up consumption. The use of LNG for transportation is also expected to boost demand for natural gas.”
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