The Role of EPC Contractors in Oil and Gas Storage
Engineering, procurement and construction contractors manage the full
project lifecycle for oil and gas storage facilities — taking projects
from FEED (front-end engineering and design) through to mechanical
completion and handover. In the storage and terminal sector this
encompasses cryogenic LNG tank construction, bulk liquid terminal
development, pipeline systems, and associated processing infrastructure.
Key EPC Contractors in the Tank Storage Sector
The global tank storage and LNG terminal market is served by a small
number of contractors with the scale, safety record, and technical
capability to execute mega-projects. Bechtel leads the field in LNG
terminal construction, having built over 40% of global liquefaction
capacity across facilities including Sabine Pass, Cameron, and LNG
Canada. McDermott and CB&I — now operating under the same corporate
umbrella — bring complementary cryogenic storage and offshore
engineering expertise. KBR serves the European and Asia-Pacific markets
with a strong technology licensing and process engineering capability.
EPC Contractors and the Energy Transition in 2026
In 2026, leading EPC contractors are repositioning significant portions
of their business development activity toward energy transition
infrastructure — hydrogen production facilities, carbon capture and
storage systems, ammonia terminals, and renewable fuel processing plants.
The engineering and construction competencies required for these projects
closely mirror those used in conventional LNG and storage terminal
delivery, giving established EPC contractors a structural advantage over
new entrants in the clean energy construction market.
Selecting an EPC Contractor for Storage Projects
For operators planning new tank terminal or LNG storage capacity,
EPC contractor selection typically considers: track record in comparable
facilities, safety performance data, financial strength, local content
capability, and technology partnerships. The concentration of capability
among a small number of global contractors means early engagement and
long-term framework agreements are increasingly common procurement
strategies for major terminal operators.