US-based Marathon Oil said higher LNG sales volumes boosted first-quarter earnings in its gas division.

The independent saw its net LNG sales grow to more than 7,820 tonnes per day, a 35% jump on 5,790 tpd in the same period of 2010.

Integrated gas income grew to $60 million from $44 million in the same period of 2010.

Marathon is a partner in Equatorial Guinea LNG and Alaska’s Kenai LNG.