U.S. pipeline operator Williams recruits LNG executives for new marketing arm

Hanwha General Insurance

09/02/2022 20:25

By Marcy de Luna
    HOUSTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas pipeline
operator Williams Companies has hired two veteran executives to
set up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) marketing operation,
according to employee profiles and people familiar with the
matter.
    New LNG production capacity this year will push the United
States' processing capacity to 13.9 billion cubic feet per day
(bcfd), above top LNG exporters Australia and Qatar. U.S.
exports of the fuel have soared, hitting 9.77 bcfd, up from just
4.99 bcfd, three years ago, according to U.S. government data.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UB1AS 
    The LNG marketing operation could put Williams into
competition with Cheniere Energy, Shell Plc and QatarEnergy,
which market their own production. The company operates 30,000
miles (48,280 km) of gas pipelines and expanded in the past year
by acquiring gas acreage from Chesapeake Energy. 
    "The LNG marketing efforts would be a plus," said Stephen
Ellis, analyst at financial services firm Morningstar, "but it
would be very difficult to be successful without any actual LNG
terminal ownership." 
    Dan Werner, a 25-year veteran who most recently ran
NextDecade's Europe and Americas LNG marketing, was named
Williams' managing director of global LNG this month, according
to his LinkedIn profile. He previously held senior roles at
Golar LNG, BG Group and Sempra Energy, the profile showed. 
    Daniel Glazner, who was an LNG trader at ConocoPhillips and
most recently oversaw LNG and midstream infrastructure projects
at Hanwha General Chemical, was hired this month to develop
Williams' LNG marketing team, according to his LinkedIn profile.
    Williams and Werner did not reply to requests for comment.
Glazner declined immediate comment. 
    "I’ll be working with an amazing group to build and develop
a LNG marketing team from well-head to water," Glazner wrote on
his profile. 
    Glazner previously was a director at Toshiba America LNG
Corporation, an independent LNG consultant, and senior managing
consultant for LNG at Berkeley Research Group. 

 (Reporting by Marcy de Luna; Additional reporting by Liz
Hampton in Denver; Editing by Paul Simao)
 ((marcy.deluna@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging:
@marcydeluna))