BPTT: Trinidad and Tobago may be short on gas until 2014

Trinidad and Tobago could continue suffering a shortage in its natural gas production until 2014 as the country’s largest supplier, BP Trinidad & Tobago, said it will not be able to return to its highest production levels until most of its infrastructure upgrade is complete towards the end of 2013-14.

BPTT said the reduced production was due to maintenance work.

BP’s Trinidad and Tobago operations last year averaged 408,000 boe/d and accounted for more than half of the twin-island nation’s gas production and 12% of BP’s global production. BPTT last year embarked on a maintenance program following the Macondo disaster and it has resulted in a 10% reduction in the company’s production out of the Caribbean island nation.

The reduction also has led to lower levels of production out of Atlantic LNG with a 17% decline in production in 2011. It also has led to a reduction in methanol production as plants were unable to procure the required gas. This was the reason Methanex gave for its inability to meet its global operations goals in 2011.

BPTT stated that the maintenance work included vessel and pipeline inspections and that the company was trying “to get the kit really well-maintained and ready for the future.”