Vancouver-based Steelhead LNG has secured patents in the United States and South Korea for its proprietary near-shore floating LNG production facility.
These patents, granted based on Steelhead LNG’s years of proprietary advancements, are in addition to the patents already issued to Steelhead LNG in Canada, Australia, and Mexico, the company said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Both the US and South Korea are key strategic jurisdictions for the LNG industry; the US has become the world leading supplier of LNG, and South Korea one of the leading locations for construction of floating LNG facilities, Steelhead LNG said.
Steelhead LNG’s patented floating LNG solution includes electric drive compressors, air cooling modules, and integrated storage.
Patent infringement litigation
The company was established in 2013, having originally focused on its own LNG export project development in British Columbia, Canada.
Steelhead LNG said in the statement is currently engaged in patent infringement litigation with Cedar LNG Partners and Pembina Pipeline in respect of the Cedar LNG project in Western Canada.
Canada’s Pembina Pipeline and the Haisla Nation have issued a notice to proceed to Samsung Heavy Industries and Black & Veatch for Cedar LNG’s floating LNG production unit and plan to take a final investment decision on the Cedar LNG project this year.
“Steelhead LNG is alleging that the Cedar LNG project infringes its Canadian patent and it is seeking injunctive relief preventing the use of Steelhead LNG’s patented solution, as well as significant damages,” it said.
Also, Steelhead LNG said it has “advanced a series of claims against Rockies LNG, including alleging that Steelhead LNG’s proprietary facility design information was improperly used to initiate the Ksi Lisims LNG project on the West Coast of Canada.”
Steelhead LNG has also sought “injunctive relief and significant damages against Rockies LNG and its partners in that case,” the company said.