ConocoPhillips technology licensed for Egyptian LNG project

March 20, 2003
El Behera Natural Gas Liquefaction Co. SAE has signed a license agreement to use ConocoPhillips' proprietary liquefaction technology at a proposed LNG facility at Idku, east of Alexandria, Egypt.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, March 20 -- El Behera Natural Gas Liquefaction Co. SAE has signed a license agreement to use ConocoPhillips' proprietary liquefaction technology at a proposed LNG facility at Idku, east of Alexandria, Egypt. El Bahera will use the ConocoPhillips technology for its $1.35 billion first LNG train and has an option for its use for a second train, scheduled to begin production in mid-2006 (OGJ Online, Jan. 7, 2003).

Train I is designed to produce 3.6 million tonnes/year, with first production scheduled for third quarter 2005. Train I Participants are: BG Group PLC, 35.5%, Edison International SPA 35.5%, Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. (EGAS), 12%, Egyptian General Petroleum Co.12 %, and Gaz de France, 5%. US engineering firm Bechtel Inc. is undertaking the $900 million engineering, procurement, and construction management for Train I. Both trains will share storage and marine facilities at the site, which can accommodate up to five trains.

ConocoPhillips's liquefaction technology is an enhanced version of the technology it uses at its Kenai, Alas., liquefaction facility. Constructed by Bechtel Corp. in 1969 for then-Phillips Petroleum Co., the Kenai facility has provided more than 33 years of uninterrupted LNG supply to Japan.

Phillips, now part of ConocoPhillips, began an effort in 1993 to update and commercialize the technology in world-scale LNG projects throughout the world. The first license was signed with Atlantic LNG Co. of Trinidad & Tobago in June 1996 with options for three additional trains. The El Behera license is ConocoPhillips' fourth LNG license overall and the first outside of Trinidad & Tobago. Several other LNG licensing projects are in various stages of development.