First LNG Terminal transported to Italy’s coast
The Adriatic LNG terminal under tow from Algeciras to Italy. (Photo: Business Wire
Exxon Mobil Corporation announced that the world’s first offshore liquefied natural gas or LNG terminal arrived at its final location off the Italian coast, where it will be capable of supplying about 10 percent of Italy’s natural gas requirements.
The Adriatic terminal is designed to store and regasify LNG to deliver 775 million cubic meters per year of clean-burning natural gas when it reaches full operational capacity in 2009. The Adriatic LNG terminal left its construction site in Algeciras, Spain, August 30, for the 3,000-km trip to its final destination, where it arrived September 15. The terminal has been positioned at about 15 km offshore Porto Levante, Italy in the Adriatic Sea, in approximately 28 m of water and will be connected via pipeline to Italy’s natural-gas grid.
The Adriatic LNG project is owned by ExxonMobil Italiana Gas, Qatar Terminal Limited (a Qatar Petroleum 100% owned subsidiary) and Edison and will be part of the world’s rapidly expanding natural gas supply network. The Adriatic LNG terminal will receive natural gas produced from Qatar’s North Field.
Liquefied Natural Gas is one of the fastest growing energy resources, supplying worldwide energy demand that is growing by 1.2 percent each year. Global LNG demand is expected to reach 480 MTA by 2030, an increase of 380 MTA since 2000.
