As Australia and North America are to become another big LNG exporter from 2016, demands for LNG carrier and floating LNG facilities, as well as drilling and production facilities are expected to grow.
Analyst Lee Yun-Sang, NH Investment & Securities said on May 29, "The US' crude oil import hit bottom in 2011 since 2000 as domestic production of natural gas and oil increases."
Lee added, "With increasing production of domestic natural gas and crude oil, the US' energy independence has been rapidly growing. The US has turned itself into net exporter for petroleum product last year and recorded the largest coal export since 2000."
He explained, "With sharply increased production of shale gas, the US ranked the first place of LNG production country. Due to abundant reserves for shale gas, the US' LNG exports is possibly to grow than expected."
Lee forecast, "In order to meet increasing demand for crude oil in the near future, production from offshore fields should necessarily be expanded. Investment in deep-sea development would double by 2016. Particularly, drilling facilities would take a largest part."
Added, "Full-scale demand for FLNG facilities, such as FSRU, LNG-FPSO, etc., which shorten construction period and lower investment, will start soon as well as for LNG carriers."