A New York state judge on Monday rejected a bid by Shell to overturn an arbitration award in favor of U.S. liquefied natural gas exporter Venture Global in a dispute over LNG cargo deliveries.
Justice Joel Cohen of the New York State Supreme Court ruled that the court owed “substantial deference” to arbitral decisions and found no basis to reopen the case or allow further evidence gathering.
He said Shell’s allegations that Venture Global’s counsel misled the arbitration panel were speculative and unsupported by clear evidence of fraud or misconduct.
The decision effectively ends Shell’s legal challenge over Venture Global’s failure to supply LNG cargoes for several years after its plant began producing the supercooled fuel.
Shell said it was disappointed with the outcome but acknowledged that courts are generally reluctant to disturb arbitral awards.
Venture Global welcomed what it described as the court’s “complete denial” of Shell’s motion to vacate the August 2025 award.
The dispute centered on shipments from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass facility in Louisiana, where Shell argued the company delayed the planned October 2022 start of commercial operations to sell cargoes on the higher-priced spot market after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The facility officially began commercial operations in April 2025.
Shell was among several energy firms, including Spain’s Repsol and Britain’s BP, that filed arbitration claims in 2023 accusing Venture Global of profiteering by prioritizing spot sales over long-term contracts. Shell and Repsol ultimately lost their cases.