Steelhead LNG launches patent litigation in South Korea

Steelhead LNG has filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court, alleging that Cedar LNG’s and Samsung Heavy’s activities infringe on Steelhead LNG’s Korean patent, the company said in a statement.

Earlier this year, Steelhead LNG secured patents in the United States and South Korea for its proprietary near-shore floating LNG production facility.

These patents are in addition to the patents already issued to Steelhead LNG in Canada, Australia, and Mexico.

Steelhead LNG’s patented floating LNG solution includes electric drive compressors, air cooling modules, and integrated storage.

Steelhead LNG seeking to stop Cedar LNG construction

In June, Canada’s Pembina Pipeline and the Haisla Nation have taken a positive final investment decision on their $4 billion Cedar LNG project.

The Haisla Nation has a 50.1 percent stake and Pembina owns 49.9 percent in the project which includes the construction of a floating LNG facility with a nameplate capacity of 3.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), located in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation, on Canada’s West Coast.

In April, Cedar LNG issued a notice to proceed to Samsung Heavy and Black & Veatch for Cedar LNG’s floating LNG production unit following the finalization of long-term commercial offtake agreements.

Samsung Heavy is responsible for the hull of the FLNG and topside plant processes, while Black & Veatch will provide its PRICO technology.

Steelhead LNG said the lawsuit “seeks to halt the construction of Cedar LNG’s facility, secure damages for the unauthorized use of Steelhead LNG’s patent, and obtain an injunction to prevent further infringement.”

“Steelhead LNG has dedicated significant resources to developing its unique LNG export facility solution. Our intellectual property is the cornerstone of that effort, and we have a responsibility to safeguard it against unauthorized use,” said Victor Ojeda, president at Steelhead LNG.

“Our multi-year efforts to resolve this dispute with Cedar LNG have been repeatedly rebuffed, unfortunately necessitating this legal action,” Ojeda said.