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LNG Now Delivering Gas Over Seas

Hannah Burk, Director of Proprietary NatGas Products & Charlie Cone, Proprietary NatGas Analyst
April 12, 2018


The tanker "Gemmata" recently delivered the first export cargo from Cove Point to the Dragon LNG facility in the U.K. The vessel began its journey to Cove Point at Huelva LNG in Spain on January 28, 2018. Genscape Vesseltracker AIS datapicked up this activity and the voyage, as the likely first export from Cove Point, which was immediately available to subscribers via Genscape's Live Voyage tracker. After a brief journey across the Atlantic, customers received a notice of the exact time that the ship began to load at Cove Point. From there, Genscape tracked this cargo to its final destination, Dragon LNG in the U.K., and the vessel's return trip to Cove Point to pick up a second cargo. The Gemmata is now once again at Cove Point berth after berthing earlier this month and waiting at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay until early in the day on April 12.


Genscape Vesseltracker's Cockpit Tool shows the journey of LNG tanker Gemmata from January 28 to April 6, 2018. Click to enlarge


The cargo currently loaded on the Gemmata is the final commissioning cargo from the facility as Cove Point announced the commencement of commercial operations on April 10. The "LNG Sakura" and "Adam LNG" are currently inbound to load the first commercial exports from Cove Point.


Photo of LNG tanker Gemmata.


Close to three months after its anticipated in-service date, Cove Point LNG has finally commenced service after delivering its first cargo of U.S. sourced gas abroad. Originally planned to begin service in January 2018, Cove Point received authorization to commence commercial operations on March 5 and make its in-service announcement on April 10.

As the second major liquefaction terminal to come online in North America, the commissioning of this facility is a milestone for Dominion Energy and the American gas industry at large. Volumes produced at Cove Point will contribute to the increasingly interconnected and distributed global natural gas market. Several more North American LNG facilities will be coming online in the next five years that will divert gas away from U.S. markets, allowing for an increasingly diverse portfolio of international clients.

Genscape's observations at both Cove Point and Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass demonstrate that insight into LNG terminal activity is becoming critical to understanding overall gas market dynamics. First liquefaction during the commissioning process at Cove Point was observable through Genscape infrared observations before feed or fuel consumption appeared in the pipeline nominations. Timely alerting of vessel activity and operational changes at liquefaction facilities give Genscape subscribers a strong advantage in predicting fluctuations in the onshore supply and demand balance and the global LNG market.

Genscape uses cutting edge surveillance to observe activity at Cove Point and has reported on every major advancement up to its initial production and export. Satellite imagery and on-site imagery from our field team allow us to monitor construction progress and modifications to the facility. An offsite infrared camera allows us to interpret activity at the facility in near-real-time and contributes to our data-driven analysis of terminal activity. A second camera watches the terminal's berths and determines exactly when a vessel arrives and links to the LNG loading arms. We receive and interpret this information more quickly than it can be delivered to the public, if it is publicly available at all.

Genscape provides diligent, dynamic insights into the LNG supply chain through Genscape Vesseltracker's AIS data derived from their antennas which leverage a clear view into the entire LNG supply chain, bringing a "new world order" to global gas and power markets. In addition, Genscape’s North American LNG Supply and Demand Service garners comprehensive industry intelligence through proprietary technology to monitor heat emissions, ships at berth, and power consumption at LNG liquefaction resulting in near-real time data feeds, and provides relevant market commentary. To learn more about Genscape’s North American LNG Supply and Demand Service, please click here.