Shell continues to strongly believe in LNG, the company’s CEO Wael Sawan said March 18 in Houston during CERAWeek by S&P Global.
Sawan said the fuel source would be used as a backfill for coal, particularly in Asia, for energy security, adding that LNG currently makes up around 13% of gas sales but was expected to grow to around 20% in the coming 15 to 20 years.
The bulk of that growth is related to coal-to-gas switching in certain Asian countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh where the current infrastructure is gas-based because of domestic production in the past, Sawan said. As reserves decline, LNG can allow those countries to fully utilize their infrastructure, he said.
“The key point will be on the prices of LNG,” Sawan said as “LNG is expected to grow 50% from today to around 650 million [tonnes per annum] to 760 million tonnes per annum by [2040].”
“You have supply coming out of the U.S. and Qatar, the two big giants in that space for now depending on where the [U.S.] administration goes with the long-term LNG pause.”
Shell expects to see good LNG supply in the second half of this decade.
“We see a huge amount of latent demand for LNG at the right price point. So, what will happen is there will be a huge amount of uptake in places like India, in places like southeast Asia and China of course,” Sawan said.
Recommended Reading
E&P Highlights: Feb. 26, 2024
2024-02-26 - Here’s a roundup of the latest E&P headlines, including interest in some projects changing hands and new contract awards.
Remotely Controlled Well Completion Carried Out at SNEPCo’s Bonga Field
2024-02-27 - Optime Subsea, which supplied the operation’s remotely operated controls system, says its technology reduces equipment from transportation lists and reduces operation time.
Less Heisenberg Uncertainty with Appraisal Wells
2024-03-21 - Equinor proves Heisenberg in the North Sea holds 25 MMboe to 56 MMboe, and studies are underway for a potential fast-track tieback development.
Stena Evolution Upgrade Planned for Sparta Ops
2024-03-27 - The seventh-gen drillship will be upgraded with a 20,000-psi equipment package starting in 2026.
Subsea7 Awarded Sizable Contract in GoM
2024-04-12 - Subsea7 will install a flowline for Talos’ Sunspear development in the Gulf of Mexico.