Empresas y finanzas

ExxonMobil Announces BlueOcean Energy, a Project to Bring Needed Natural Gas Supplies to New Jersey and New York via a Floating Offshore LNG Terminal



    Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) today announced plans to seek
    regulatory approval for BlueOcean Energy, a floating liquefied natural
    gas (LNG) receiving terminal that will create a gateway to global
    supplies of clean-burning natural gas to help meet the growing energy
    needs of New Jersey and New York.

    The project will have the capacity to supply about 1.2 billion
    cubic feet of clean-burning natural gas per day, enough to meet the
    needs of more than five million residential consumers.

    Anchored approximately 20 miles off the coast of New Jersey, the
    more than $1 billion terminal will be far from shore and away from
    shipping lanes, ports and recreational areas.

    "We believe that BlueOcean Energy is a unique and innovative
    solution to meeting the region´s energy challenges," said Ron P.
    Billings, vice president, Global LNG, ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing
    Company. "BlueOcean Energy will provide significant economic benefits
    to New Jersey and New York and will help the region achieve its
    environmental objectives."

    The project will generate sizeable direct and indirect economic
    benefits through project spending, new jobs, taxes and additional
    natural gas. Access to global supplies of natural gas can improve
    reliability, help reduce swings in natural gas prices and fuel future
    growth. The Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public
    Policy studied the economic effects of these benefits to the State of
    New Jersey. Rutgers´ detailed report, to be issued shortly, concludes
    that "the proposed LNG terminal could have significant positive
    benefits for the New Jersey economy."

    The project will help the region in obtaining secure, safe and
    competitively priced energy, economic growth and development and
    environmental protection -- in alignment with goals of the New Jersey
    Energy Master Plan. New supplies of clean-burning natural gas can help
    reduce air emissions and improve air quality, including a reduction in
    the need for new, coal-fired power generation. Also, natural gas has a
    growing role to play in helping New Jersey and New York meet clean
    energy objectives and it is an ideal complement to renewables and
    efficiency initiatives.

    Safety and security will be paramount. BlueOcean Energy
    commissioned former New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer, a noted
    security expert and senior counsel to the 911 Commission, to conduct a
    safety and security assessment of the facility.

    "BlueOcean Energy is developing a sound plan for a safe and secure
    facility," Farmer said.

    The BlueOcean Energy floating terminal is designed to receive LNG
    supplies from double-hulled LNG ships about twice a week, and store
    the LNG in insulated tanks inside the terminal´s double hull. The
    stored LNG will then be warmed to turn it back into natural gas for
    delivery to New Jersey and New York markets through a new subsea
    pipeline that will connect to new and existing onshore pipelines.

    BlueOcean Energy is at the start of a lengthy and rigorous
    permitting process involving state and federal agencies, as well as
    the general public.

    "Public consultation is a cornerstone of the permitting process,
    and we are committed to discussing the project with communities and
    other stakeholders," Billings said. "We look forward to working
    closely with state and federal officials, as well as with the U.S.
    Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, the agencies
    responsible for the review of the terminal plans under the Deepwater
    Port Act."

    In addition to BlueOcean Energy, ExxonMobil is involved in three
    other terminal projects. Receiving terminals are under construction
    near Sabine Pass, Texas; in Wales in the United Kingdom; and offshore
    Italy in the Adriatic Sea. With several years required for permitting,
    engineering and construction, BlueOcean Energy is expected to begin
    service around the middle of the next decade.

    More information is available at www.blueoceanenergy.com.

    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Estimates, expectations, and business plans
    in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results,
    including project plans, schedules, costs, and capacities as well as
    commercial arrangements could differ materially due to changes in
    long-term oil and gas price levels or other market conditions
    affecting the oil and gas industry; political or regulatory
    developments; technical or operating factors; the outcome of
    commercial negotiations; and other factors discussed under the heading
    "Factors Affecting Future Results" included in Item 1A of ExxonMobil´s
    most recent Form 10-K and posted on our website (www.exxonmobil.com).

    NOTES TO EDITORS:

    -- The BlueOcean Energy terminal will not be visible from the New
    Jersey shoreline. It will be moored in about 150 feet of water
    and be positioned outside of shipping lanes and away from port
    traffic.

    -- The terminal will be located about 30 miles off the coast of
    Long Island.

    -- The project will involve the construction of a subsea pipeline
    to connect the ocean terminal to natural gas distribution
    pipelines onshore.

    -- No route has been selected, though our initial focus for a
    shore crossing is in New Jersey´s Raritan Bay.

    -- Onshore distribution may involve the building of a pipeline to
    connect the incoming natural gas to existing sales and
    transmission pipelines operated by local distribution
    companies or interstate pipelines.

    -- John Farmer, Jr. has been responsible for issues of security
    and emergency management as chief counsel to the Governor of
    New Jersey and as Attorney General of New Jersey (1999-2002).
    He was the first chairperson of New Jersey´s Homeland Security
    Task Force and was named senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission
    in 2002. His areas of responsibility included investigating
    the national response to the attacks, the emergency response
    in New York and at the Pentagon, and the state of national
    preparedness.

    -- The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
    at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, serves as one
    of the nation´s key centers for the theory and practice of
    planning and public policy scholarship and analysis.