Shell Trinidad and Tobago Ltd., a subsidiary of Shell plc, has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Manatee project, an undeveloped gas field in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) in Trinidad and Tobago. The project aims to competitively grow Shell's Integrated Gas business by leveraging development efforts in the ECMA, which is home to the company's largest gas-producing fields in the country.

The Manatee gas field will provide backfill for the country’s Atlantic LNG facility, contributing to the increased utilization of existing LNG plants. Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, emphasized the project's significance in meeting the global demand for natural gas while addressing the energy needs of customers in Trinidad and Tobago. The investment aligns with Shell's commitment to investing in competitive projects that deliver more value with fewer emissions.

With plans to expand its LNG business by 20-30% by 2030 and increase LNG liquefaction volumes by 25-30% relative to 2022, Shell aims to start production at Manatee in 2027. The field is expected to reach peak production of approximately 104,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (604 MMscf/d).

The Manatee project, operated by Shell with a 100% working interest, involves the development of a Normally Unattended Installation platform and eight development wells via a 110 km 32” pipeline to the Shell-operated onshore Beachfield gas processing facility. The gas will be exported to the Atlantic LNG facility and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago for the domestic gas market.

Shell believes that LNG will play a critical role in the energy transition, replacing coal in heavy industry and power generation, and providing flexibility to the power system as renewable generation grows rapidly. The company's Energy Transition Strategy 2024 and the LNG Outlook 2024 highlight the increasing global demand for LNG, with estimates indicating a rise of more than 50% by 2040, particularly in China, South Asian, and South-east Asian countries.

The Manatee project represents a significant step for Shell in expanding its LNG business and contributing to the global energy transition, while also addressing the energy needs of Trinidad and Tobago.