Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA), North America’s leading clean transportation and energy consulting firm, has announced the release of the “Wyoming LNG Roadmap” – a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility, potential, costs, and benefits of using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a supplement to diesel fuel in Wyoming’s high horsepower sectors – including mining, rail, drilling, pressure pumping, and over-the-road trucking. The GNA-authored report was commissioned under the leadership of Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, along with a coalition of private-sector businesses including Ambre Energy, Anadarko Petroleum, Caterpillar, Chart Industries, Dresser-Rand, Eagle LNG Partners, Encana, Ensign, GE Oil & Gas, ONEOK Partners, TallGrass Energy, Westport, and Wyoming Machinery.

The report addresses key needs identified in Governor Mead’s statewide energy strategy released in May 2013, entitled “Leading the Charge: Wyoming’s Action Plan for Energy, Environment, and Economy.” GNA’s LNG Roadmap study finds that Wyoming – with its strong state leadership, status as a world-class energy producer, and leading-edge educational system – is well positioned to lead the nation in the development of a robust, sustainable LNG industry for HHP applications. The report was published following several months of extensive research to characterise the current fuel use and inventory of high horsepower diesel engines that currently power Wyoming’s huge energy economy (10.35 quadrillion BTUs per year).

The comprehensive LNG roadmap will be used to help guide the state in its development of energy policies and educational programs, as well as identify ideal opportunities for investment in infrastructure and technology to help spur natural gas market development. “As the nation’s third largest producer of natural gas, the state of Wyoming has an incredible opportunity to help shape the high horsepower industry’s energy landscape,” said Erik Neandross, CEO of GNA. “This first-of-its-kind initiative helped facilitate a great partnership among all of the key players needed to make the gradual shift to domestically abundant, low cost and clean natural gas a reality—from government, fuel suppliers, and engine and technology providers, to high horsepower end-users.”

GNA Senior Vice President Jon Leonard, the study’s principal investigator and lead author, notes that the report identifies strong potential for Wyoming to become a leading producer of “home-grown” LNG and other forms of natural gas for powering high horsepower engines. “This natural gas fuel can be consumed by Wyoming’s own prolific fleets in the mining, rail, and oil and gas sectors, while also being exported to nearby states that have similar vehicles and equipment.” Governor Mead shared his state’s commitment to fostering the growth of clean-burning, domestically produced natural gas fuel during his keynote address at the 2013 High Horsepower (HHP) Summit in Chicago last year. HHP Summit, produced by GNA, is the largest and most comprehensive conference on natural gas fuelling, equipment and technologies for the rail, mining, drilling, pressure pumping, and marine industries. GNA first began working with the Governor’s team following the inaugural High Horsepower (HHP) Summit in September 2012, which helped further expose them the burgeoning natural gas transportation industry and the vast opportunities it could bring to the high horsepower operations throughout their state. The next HHP Summit will be held in New Orleans from October 7 to 9, 2014.

“This report shows there is potential for expansion of LNG use in Wyoming that can add value to our natural gas, be a sound business decision for Wyoming industries, and lead to job growth,” Governor Mead said. “I felt this was an opportune time to team up with private companies to facilitate research and understand what possibilities exist. The private sector will ultimately make investments in LNG technologies based on market conditions, and this report can be a catalyst.” The Governor’s Office released the report during a press conference in Cheyenne, co-hosted by the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming School of Energy Resources.