ChevronTexaco orders LNG duo

US oil major ChevronTexaco Corp. has ordered two LNG carriers from South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries to support the planned growth in the company’s LNG business. Each newbuilding will have a 154,800 cubic metre membrane containment system and will be powered by a dual fuel diesel-electric propulsion plant. The two carriers are planned to enter service in 2009 and will be operated by ChevronTexaco. The company currently operates a fleet of approximately 30 oil and gas tankers.

ChevronTexaco has already launched a $6 billion LNG project it planned along with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the British Gas Group, billed to come on stream in 2009 and projected to produce 10 million tonnes of LNG per annum.