Shell takes FID on Aphrodite project to supply Trinidad’s Atlantic LNG

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LNG Export Capacity of Trinidad and Tobago:

Trinidad and Tobago’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity is primarily driven by the Atlantic LNG Terminal located in Point Fortin. The facility has four liquefaction trains, but Train 1 has been permanently decommissioned as of March 2025. The total production capacity of the remaining three trains (Trains 2, 3, and 4) is approximately 12 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG.

Historically, the facility’s full capacity across all four trains was around 15 mtpa, but with Train 1’s decommissioning and periodic gas supply constraints, actual production has often been lower. For instance, in 2023, natural gas exports were reported at 9,879 million cubic meters, reflecting a decline from a peak of 19,750 million cubic meters in 2009, partly due to gas supply issues. In 2018, production was noted at 14.59 million cubic meters for the first half of the year, showing variability based on upstream gas availability.

The facility has faced challenges with gas supply shortages, leading to Trains 2, 3, and 4 operating at approximately 70% capacity in early 2023. However, projects like Shell’s Manatee gas field, expected to start production in 2027, could boost supply and potentially increase LNG output.

Major Companies Involved:

The Atlantic LNG Terminal is a joint venture with the following major stakeholders:

Shell (Royal Dutch Shell):
- Holds a significant share in the Atlantic LNG facility, with approximately 45% ownership in the restructured commercial arrangement as of October 2024.
- Shell is a key operator and investor in upstream gas projects, including the Manatee field, which will supply gas to the terminal.
- Shell has been involved since the project’s inception and acquired additional assets in Trinidad and Tobago, including Chevron’s holdings.
BP (British Petroleum):
- Also holds around 45% of the Atlantic LNG facility under the restructured ownership.
- BP is the leading natural gas producer in Trinidad and Tobago, with an output of over 1.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2022, accounting for roughly 46.2% of the country’s natural gas production.
- Key projects include the Juniper and Angelin developments, which have boosted gas production for LNG exports.
National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC):
- A state-owned company with a 10% stake in Trains 2 and 3 as of October 2024, set to increase to 10% across all operating trains (2, 3, and 4) by May 2027.
- NGC has recently begun marketing its own LNG cargoes globally, with its first two cargoes shipped in November and December 2024 to Italy and Egypt.
- Plays a critical role in aggregating and supplying gas to the Atlantic LNG facility and is expanding its role in the LNG value chain.

Other Notable Players:

Chinese Investment Corporation (CIC): Previously held a 10% stake in Train 1 but no longer has an active role following Train 1’s decommissioning.
Woodside Energy and EOG Resources: Emerging as potential gas suppliers for the Atlantic LNG Terminal, particularly as the restructured ownership allows gas purchases from non-traditional suppliers beyond BP and Shell.

Export Markets and Trends:

Trinidad and Tobago is the largest supplier of LNG to the United States, with 11.9 billion cubic feet exported in 2023, out of total U.S. LNG imports of 15.3 billion cubic feet.
Other key export destinations include Europe (e.g., Italy, Spain), Africa (e.g., Egypt, Morocco), Latin America (e.g., Guyana, Jamaica), and Asia (e.g., China, South Korea).
The government has renegotiated contracts to sell LNG at 15–55% above Henry Hub prices, increasing revenue since the 2023 commercial restructuring.

Summary: Trinidad and Tobago’s LNG export capacity is approximately 12 mtpa from the Atlantic LNG Terminal’s active trains, though actual exports vary due to gas supply constraints. The major companies involved are Shell, BP, and NGC, with Shell and BP dominating ownership and gas production, while NGC is expanding its marketing role. Future projects like Manatee could enhance export volumes, but challenges with gas supply and global competition, particularly from the U.S., remain.

Update from LNGPrime.com

The undeveloped gas field is located in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Shell Trinidad and Tobago said Aphrodite would allow Shell to incrementally expand its integrated gas business by building on existing developments in the ECMA, one of the country’s most prolific gas-producing areas.

The ECMA is currently home to Shell’s largest gas-producing fields in the country including Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty, and Endeavour.

Last year, Shell took FID on the Manatee gas field to supply the Atlantic LNG export plant.

Once online, the Aphrodite gas field will also serve as a backfill for the country’s Atlantic LNG facility.

Shell’s unit stated that the increased production will help maximize the potential utilization of Shell’s existing assets.

According to the firm, development of the Aphrodite field remains subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals.

Once approved, it is expected to start production in 2027 with an estimated peak production of approximately 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (107 MMscf/d).

Shell is a shareholder in the Atlantic LNG plant.

In December 2023, Trinidad and Tobago finally signed a restructuring deal with the shareholders of Atlantic LNG, Shell, BP, and NGC.

The Point Fortin facility features four trains with a total capacity of about 15 million tonnes per annum of LNG, but the facility has been experiencing supply issues due to dwindling domestic gas reserves.

Atlantic LNG’s first train has been idled since 2020 due to reduced gas supplies.

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