Conventional ball valves tend to become larger in size and weight as oil and gas companies explore harsher environments.

Both the local and global firms are keen to form consortiums for the coveted project.

Many of the fastest growing markets in the Asian-Pacific region lack terminals and other infrastructure needed to increase their LNG imports.

The agreement comes amid tensions over Kurdish claims to sovereignty with reports of armed clashes between Kurdish forces and Iraqi government troops.

In Europe. American infringement of Russian dominance in gas markets is even clearer.

Shell believes it can almost double the earnings from its chemicals business within the next two years.

The United States would like to weaken Russia’s energy cooperation with the European Union.

Some of those investments failed to pan out and BP in 2011 wrote off its solar business.

The major risk to future gas demand is the possibility that renewable power sources will take a larger slice of the global energy pie faster than now expected.

LNG contract flexibility appears as an important determinant of the resiliency of the global gas system.