KBR (NYSE: KBR) has been selected by the Live Oak consortium to provide front-end engineering design (FEED) services for a proposed e-methane production facility in Norfolk, Nebraska, according to a company press release.

The Live Oak consortium is an international partnership comprising TotalEnergies, Osaka Gas, Toho Gas, ITOCHU Corporation, and Tree Energy Solutions (TES). The project is subject to a Final Investment Decision in 2027 and is scheduled to begin commercial operations by 2030, with plans to export the produced e-methane, also referred to as electric natural gas (e-NG), to Japan.

KBR will execute the FEED scope for a facility expected to produce e-NG using renewable hydrogen generated through approximately 250 MW of water electrolysis combined with biogenic carbon dioxide. The resulting synthetic methane is chemically identical to conventional natural gas and can be integrated into existing LNG infrastructure, including liquefaction, transportation, regasification, and distribution systems.

"We are pleased to support the Live Oak consortium and its partners on this strategically important project," said Jay Ibrahim, President of KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions. "This award reflects KBR's proven ability to deliver large-scale energy transition projects, our deep expertise in hydrogen and electrolysis technologies, strong U.S. execution capabilities and successful track record supporting TotalEnergies worldwide."

KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 28 countries, serving customers in over 85 countries.