Long-term gas supply for Europe - Pipeline projects and LNG-chains

The current situation of gas supply is characterized by a temporary global oversupply - caused by the exploration and production of unconventional natural gas in North America combined with declining demand due to the global economic crisis. The worldwide natural gas supply is expected to be secured until 2030 and beyond. The distances between available natural gas sources in the "Strategic Ellipse" and consumption markets in Europe and East Asia are ranging up to 6000 km (onshore) and 12 000 km (offshore) respectively. For the delivery of natural gas supplies, it is necessary - in the medium and long term - to build new natural gas transmission systems: large-caliber pipeline systems and high capacity LNG-chains. Pipeline systems are preferable because of their economic efficiency whereas LNG-chains are characterized by greater flexibility. The expected investments in the transport systems - just in the direction of Europe - will amount to a three digit billion € sum. As a prerequisite for the implementation of the planned projects, issues of cooperation with countries of production and transit will have to be resolved in the political space.