Cheniere Energy today shipped the first cargo of LNG from its Corpus Christi liquefaction facility in Texas, marking the first export of LNG from the state and from a greenfield liquefaction facility in the lower 48 states. The LNG was loaded on the LNG carrier Maria Energy, chartered by Cheniere Marketing LLP.
The $15-billion facility has been producing LNG since mid-November. The Maria Energy arrived at the terminal on 1 December.
The Corpus Christi facility comprises three large-scale LNG trains, with an additional seven smaller trains proposed. The seven smaller trains would increase the facility’s total expected nominal production capacity to approximately 23 mtpa. The facility’s first train produced first LNG in November and is expected to reach substantial completion in 1Q 2019, Train 2 in the second half of 2019, and Train 3 in the second half of 2021. Three LNG storage tanks with capacity of approximately 10.1-Bcf equivalent and two marine berths will also be included.
In November, Cheniere entered into a 24-year LNG sale and purchase agreement with Polish state-owned oil and gas company Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA (PGNiG) for the sale of approximately 1.45 mtpa of LNG on a delivered ex-ship basis. Deliveries will begin in 2019, with the full annual quantity starting in 2023.
The company’s Sabine Pass Liquefaction (SPL) entered into an engineering, procurement, and construction contract with Bechtel Oil, Gas, and Chemicals for Train 6 of the SPL Project in November. SPL also issued limited notice to proceed to Bechtel to begin early engineering, procurement, and site works.
Bechtel is also the EPC partner at the Corpus Christi facility and has contracted Baker Hughes, a GE company, to provide turbomachinery equipment for the Train 3 comprising six PGT25+G4 DLE gas turbines driving various compressors. BHGE has provided the same equipment for two other trains already under construction at Corpus Christi, and similar technology for five trains at SPL.
As of 31 October, more than 215 cargoes have been produced, loaded, and exported from the SPL Project year to date. More than 475 cumulative LNG cargoes have been exported from the SPL Project, with deliveries to 29 countries and regions worldwide.