Support for Closed-Loop Systems in the Gulf
The Mobile Register reports that companies proposing deepwater LNG terminals are opting for a “closed-loop” system that does not use seawater to reheat LNG. Opponents of the open-loop system say that drawing water out of the ocean, and discharging cold water, may seriously damage fish larvae and other organisms important to the fishing industry. In the past, LNG developers have argued that offshore Gulf terminals could not be economically viable using closed-loop systems, but the Mobile Register points to other projects to counter this argument. Tractebel’s proposed Neptune terminal and Excelerate’s proposed Northeast Gateway terminal, both offshore Massachusetts, would use closed-loop systems. Excelerate has said that its operational open-loop Gulf Gateway Energy Bridge terminal, in the Gulf of Mexico, would be economic even if it used closed-loop technology. “We feel if the Atlantic should have it, so should we,” said the director of the Gulf Restoration Network. [This article is no longer available online.]