Risk-sharing Strategies on EPC Contracts: Lessons-learned from Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project

'Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project (SPL Project)', a case study in this report, is the first construction project of a U.S. liquefaction facility for shale gas export overseas. This study analyzes the SPL Project to give understanding and a guideline to Korean EPC companies by benchmarking about effective risk-sharing strategies on EPC contracts. This study consists of three parts. The first summarizes the liquefaction process adopted on the SPL Project, named the 'ConocoPhillips Optimized Cascade Process', and compares it with other competitive liquefaction processes. The second introduces the unique features of the SPL EPC contract by comparing it with two other EPC forms of contracts: a FIDIC Silver Book for onshore plant projects and a contract of an offshore oil production (FPSO) project. The third focuses on the complexity of project financing (PF), especially lenders control and impact on the EPC contract such as covenant provisions to constrain variations and changes on the EPC Contract. From these conclusions, it is anticipated that this case study can provide a guideline for successful performance of Korean EPC contractors overseas.