The United States Secures 11 MTPA with Woodside and Bechtel in Louisiana

Bechtel entrusts Baker Hughes with equipment supply for two liquefaction plants in Louisiana, marking a key advancement in Woodside Energy’s LNG project with a capacity of 11 million tonnes per annum.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The development of the LNG project in Louisiana, led by Woodside Energy and overseen by Bechtel, progresses with a strategic equipment order from Baker Hughes. The initial phase of this project aims for a production capacity of 11 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year, enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. energy exports.

The contract includes main refrigeration compressors powered by LM6000PF+ gas turbines, as well as expander-compressors. These technologies, selected for their performance and reliability, represent a pivotal step towards the final investment decision (FID), expected in the first quarter of 2025.

Export Strategy and Geopolitical Stakes

This Louisiana project is part of a broader U.S. strategy to strengthen its LNG export capabilities. Faced with growing demand in Europe and Asia, natural gas has become a strategic tool to diversify global energy supplies and reduce reliance on traditional sources.

For Woodside Energy, this project is also an opportunity to expand its presence in the North American market. The planned infrastructure in Louisiana could reshape the energy export landscape, granting the U.S. an increased role in global LNG trade.

Technological and Environmental Choices

The equipment selection by Bechtel aligns with requirements for sustainability and performance. The LM6000PF+ turbines are renowned for their energy efficiency, a critical advantage in a sector under constant pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, Baker Hughes has been tasked with providing electric compression systems for the associated pipelines, reinforcing a comprehensive commitment to energy efficiency. These technological choices reflect a growing trend in the sector: integrating advanced solutions to meet regulatory and market expectations.

Regional Economic Impact

Beyond its geopolitical and technological implications, the Louisiana project promises significant economic benefits for the region. The construction of liquefaction infrastructure and associated pipelines is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

However, the project also raises questions about balancing economic development and adherence to local environmental standards, an issue at the core of ongoing political and industrial debates.

The partial exploitation of associated gas from the Badila field by Perenco supplies electricity to Moundou, highlighting the logistical and financial challenges of gas development in Chad.
A new regulation requires gas companies to declare the origin, volume and duration of their contracts, as the EU prepares to end Russian imports.
Saudi Aramco has launched production at the unconventional Jafurah gas field, initiating an investment plan exceeding $100bn to substitute domestic crude and increase exportable flows under OPEC+ constraints.
By mobilising long-term contracts with BP and new infrastructure, PLN is driving Indonesia’s shift toward prioritising domestic LNG use, at the centre of a state-backed investment programme supported by international lenders.
TotalEnergies, TES and three Japanese companies will develop an industrial-scale e-gas facility in the United States, targeting 250 MW capacity and 75,000 tonnes of annual output by 2030.
Argentinian consortium Southern Energy will supply up to two million tonnes of LNG per year to Germany’s Sefe, marking the first South American alliance for the European importer.
The UK government has ended its financial support for TotalEnergies' liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique, citing increased risks and a lack of national interest in continuing its involvement.
Faced with a climate- and geopolitically-constrained winter, Beijing announces expected record demand for electricity and gas, placing coal, LNG and UHV grids at the centre of a national energy stress test.
The Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities have launched an investigation into the drone attack targeting the Khor Mor gas field, which halted production and caused widespread electricity outages.
PetroChina internalises three major gas storage sites through two joint ventures with PipeChina, representing 11 Gm³ of capacity, in a CNY40.02bn ($5.43bn) deal consolidating control over its domestic gas network.
The European Union is facilitating the use of force majeure to exit Russian gas contracts by 2028, a risky strategy for companies still bound by strict legal clauses.
Amid an expected LNG surplus from 2026, investors are reallocating positions toward the EU carbon market, betting on tighter supply and a bullish price trajectory.
Axiom Oil and Gas is suing Tidewater Midstream for $110mn over a gas handling dispute tied to a property for sale in the Brazeau region, with bids due this week.
Tokyo Gas has signed a 20-year agreement with US-based Venture Global to purchase one million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas starting in 2030, reinforcing energy flows between Japan and the United States.
Venture Global accuses Shell of deliberately harming its operations over three years amid a conflict over spot market liquefied natural gas sales outside long-term contracts.
TotalEnergies ends operations of its Le Havre floating LNG terminal, installed after the 2022 energy crisis, due to its complete inactivity since August 2024.
Golar LNG has completed a $1.2bn refinancing for its floating LNG unit Gimi, securing extended financing terms and releasing net liquidity to strengthen its position in the liquefied natural gas market.
Woodside Energy and East Timor have reached an agreement to assess the commercial viability of a 5 million-tonne liquefied natural gas project from the Greater Sunrise field, with first exports targeted between 2032 and 2035.
In California, electricity production from natural gas is falling as solar continues to rise, especially between noon and 5 p.m., according to 2025 data from local grid authorities.
NextDecade has launched the pre-filing procedure to expand Rio Grande LNG with a sixth train, leveraging a political and commercial context favourable to US liquefied natural gas exports.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.