Planning small-scale LNG? Manage engineering risk to maximize returns

E. H. Rodriguez, OnQuest Inc., San Dimas, California The attractiveness of natural gas as a principal source of fuel for a range of uses is predicated on several factors. Principal among these factors is readily available supply. The twin technological breakthroughs of reliable horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have meant that fields formerly considered too costly to exploit are now economically viable. In turn, plentiful supply drives down prices. Geopolitical factors also play a role. Given turbulence in major oil-producing nations worldwide, from Iraq and Iran to Venezuela and Nigeria, the appetite for a domestic source of high-horsepower fuel has only increased. Another dri