Global gas price convergence, predicted last year to take more than a decade to develop, is expected instead to arrive this year, as a direct result of the increase in short-term LNG trading, the relative over-supply of gas and the drop in oil price indexes.  One single global gas market is therefore now emerging, from the previously fragmented sub- markets, leading to new arbitrage opportunities which will emerge for players at all points along the value chain.  Major LNG players with global reach will certainly be able to take advantage of this change by the adoption of innovative portfolio and contracting designs which enable them to optimize the use of their global liquefaction positions.  Opportunities will also be available to those individual buyers able to transform their trading portfolios and risk management approaches.