The surge in shale-gas extraction around the U.S. has caused a worldwide rush to obtain cheap U.S. natural gas. Now, to answer this demand, major energy companies are scrambling to convert existing liquefied natural gas, or LNG, import terminals into export terminals.
On Nov. 14, 2011, Houston-based Cheniere Energy awarded Bechtel a $3.9-billion engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for two new liquefaction trains at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, La. Bechtel previously built the facility as an LNG receiving facility (above).