First US shale gas to be exported

Cheniere Energy Inc. loads LNG into a tanker from its export terminal in Louisiana and says the first shale gas from the US could be ready to ship within days.

Cheniere loads the first vessel to make shale gas available to the global market. Thanks to the boom in shale drilling, the United States is on track for energy independence. Cheniere and others are investing in gas terminals.

The initial export will be considered as part of the startup process to ensure that the terminal is fully operational. After that, Cheniere will need FEC approval to operate the export terminal on a commercial basis.

American companies, led by Cheniere, have spent billions of dollars on LNG export facilities, where fuel is cooled and sent aboard ocean-going tankers. US supplies will be added to the emerging international gas market, much like crude oil.

US LNG shipments, coupled with new gas projects in Australia, are likely to add 15 billion cubic feet of daily supply to global markets in the coming years, said Genscape analyst Ted Michael. This will be a significant addition to the current level of international supply.