Commissioned by Wyoming Governor Matt Mead and a coalition of private-sector businesses (Ambre Energy, Anadarko Petroleum, Caterpillar, Chart Industries, Desser-Rand, Eagle LNG Partners, Encana, Ensign, GE Oil & Gas, ONEOK Partners, TallGrass Energy, Westport, and Wyoming Machinery), the study, prepared by clean transportation and energy consulting firm Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA), “addresses key needs identified in Gov. Mead’s statewide energy strategy released in May 2013, Leading the Charge: Wyoming’s Action Plan for Energy, Environment, and Economy,” GNA said. “This LNG Roadmap study finds that Wyoming—with its strong state leadership, status as a world-class energy producer, and leading-edge educational system—is well positioned to lead the nation in the development of a robust, sustainable LNG industry for HHP (high horsepower) applications.”
The report was published following several months of extensive research to characterize the current fuel use and inventory of high horsepower diesel engines that currently power Wyoming’s huge energy economy (10.35 quadrillion BTUs per year). The comprehensive LNG “roadmap” will be used to help guide the state in its development of energy policies and educational programs, as well as identify opportunities for investment in infrastructure and technology to help spur natural gas market development.
GNA Senior Vice President Jon Leonard, the study’s principal investigator and lead author, notes that the report identifies strong potential for Wyoming to become a leading producer of “home-grown” LNG and other forms of natural gas for powering high horsepower engines. “This natural gas fuel can be consumed by Wyoming’s own prolific fleets in the mining, rail, and oil and gas sectors, while also being exported to nearby states that have similar vehicles and equipment,” he said.
“As the nation’s third largest producer of natural gas, the state of Wyoming has an incredible opportunity to help shape the high horsepower industry’s energy landscape,” said GNA CEO Erik Neandross. “This first-of-its-kind initiative helped facilitate a great partnership among all of the key players needed to make the gradual shift to domestically abundant, low cost, clean natural gas a reality—from government, fuel suppliers, and engine and technology providers, to high horsepower end-users.”
“This report shows there is potential for expansion of LNG use in Wyoming that can add value to our natural gas, be a sound business decision for Wyoming industries, and lead to job growth,” Governor Mead said. “I felt this was an opportune time to team up with private companies to facilitate research and understand what possibilities exist. The private sector will ultimately make investments in LNG technologies based on market conditions, and this report can be a catalyst.”
This October 7-9, GNA will host its 2014 HHP Summit, described as “the largest and most comprehensive conference on natural gas fueling, equipment and technologies for the rail, mining, drilling, pressure pumping, and marine industries,” at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. For more information, visit The full Wyoming LNG Roadmap study can be downloaded at www.gladstein.org/pdfs/GNA_Wyoming_LNG_Roadmap.pdf .