ASME Event: From Gas to Gigawatts: Turbomachinery in the LNG Value Chain

ASME Event: From Gas to Gigawatts: Turbomachinery in the LNG Value Chain

Summary: Tour of the Complex Fluids lab at University of Houston – Sugarland, followed by technical presentation on LNG value chain, LNG liquefaction, and a typical plant layout.

Date: Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Speaker: Matt Taher (Bechtel Fellow and Technology Manager)

is a Bechtel Fellow and Technology Manager at Bechtel Energy’s LNG Technology Center in Houston, Texas. A globally recognized expert in complex turbomachinery and LNG processing, he has led innovative solutions for some of the industry’s most technically demanding energy projects. His work focuses on technology qualification, as well as the evaluation, design, and optimization of turbomachinery systems critical to LNG, hydrogen, and carbon capture applications.

As a Bechtel Fellow, company’s highest technical honor. Matt serves as a trusted advisor and strategic leader, shaping technology direction and driving innovation on complex, high-impact energy initiatives.

He currently serves on the advisory board of Global Power and Propulsion Society (GPPS) based in Zurich, Switzerland.

He has also served as chair of the ASME PTC-10 (2022) code committee. Under his leadership, the performance test code for centrifugal compressors was updated and published in 2023, marking a major revision after 25 years. He has also contributed to the development of API standards, serving on taskforce committees for API 617 (2022) on centrifugal compressors and turboexpanders, and API 616 (2022) on gas turbines.

He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Technical discussion:

The seminar titled “From Gas to Gigawatts: Turbomachinery in the LNG Value Chain” provides an in-depth overview of the LNG value chain, emphasizing turbomachinery as critical equipment in the LNG industry. Bechtel, having built over 30% of the world’s LNG capacity, brings unmatched expertise to this discussion. Matt Taher, a Bechtel Fellow and Technology Manager, will share insights and highlight the path forward in LNG liquefaction, focusing on achieving reliability and certainty in delivering world-scale LNG projects.

The presentation begins with the fundamentals of the LNG value chain, LNG liquefaction, and a typical plant layout. It explores the impact of climate conditions, feed gas composition, liquefaction processes, and design constraints on equipment selection. Key topics include the choice between prime movers—gas turbines or electric motors—for refrigeration compressors, as well as the role of gas and liquid expanders, boil-off gas compression and re-liquefaction, and how these decisions influence plant design. Decarbonization strategies such as electrification and transcritical CO₂ compression options will be examined alongside practical solutions. Finally, the seminar reviews current and future trends in designing new LNG plants and upgrading existing facilities to meet evolving industry demands.

Meeting Cost:

In-person (ASME members & Volunteers): $15 per Plate (or Veggie Option)

In-person (non-ASME members): $20 per Plate (or Veggie Option)

Student: Free with RSVP

Online: Free via Zoom Link

Meeting Agenda:

5:30 – 5:45 PM CDT Sign-In

5:45 – 6:30 PM CDT Tour of Complex Fluids Lab at the University. Link: https://complex-fluids.egr.uh.edu/

6:30 – 7:00 PM CDT Networking and Dinner (in-person)

7:00 – 7:15 PM CDT ASME Business Announcements (in-person and Virtual)
7:15 – 8:15 PM CDT Presentation (in-person and Virtual)

Online Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86564206653?pwd=CjyGDFDOwYVse9IobCocqooUnOF4mH.

Site Address:

University of Houston- Sugarland

Brazos Hall, Room 103

14004 University Boulevard, Sugar Land, TX 77479.

Parking:

Paid parking only. Available at PL1 and PL2 parking nearby

Link: New Pay-by-Phone System Launches | University of Houston

Questions: Contact [email protected]

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