LNG

Delfin LNG, the US floating liquefaction and export project proposed for offshore and onshore Louisiana and with a recently signed supply deal with global commodities firm Vitol, has filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a fourth extension of permits to complete the venture’s onshore facilities.

Delfin LNG, the US floating liquefaction and export project proposed for offshore Louisiana, has filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a third extension of permits to complete the venture.

The US Golden Pass LNG export project on the Gulf Coast, owned by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil, has requested immediate authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin the work covered in the latest part of its implementation plan.

The US Department of Energy extended the terms of seven long-term liquefied natural gas export authorizations through 2050 to help preserve what it said was a vital energy source for its friends and allies.

The actions follow 10 LNG export term extensions previously issued in October pursuant to an export term policy statement finalized in July 2020 by the DoE.

“The success story of US LNG continues to be written, and these extended authorizations will ensure that the benefits from these exports continue for decades to come,” said US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette.

“The United States just set a new all-time high record for LNG exports in November 2020, and the monthly rate of LNG exports has now quintupled since the beginning of the Trump Administration,” added Brouillette

The term extensions issued include for the Golden Pass project owned by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil whereby the terminal is currently being transformed into an export plant.

Other projects under development and on the extension list to 2050 are Texas LNG, proposed for Brownsville, Texas, as well as Magnolia LNG in Louisiana.

The Magnolia plant is proposed for a 115-acre site near the Calcasieu Ship Channel. It is designed to produce 8.8 million tonnes per annum of LNG from four Trains.

Both Texas LNG and Magnolia are controlled by Glenfarne, a New York-based fund specialising in energy infrastructure investment.

Tellurian Inc.’s Driftwood venture at Lake Charles in Louisiana and the Delfin LNG project, proposed for offshore Louisiana, are on the list as well.

The Delfin FLNG project is based on the deployment of floating liquefaction facilities with other moored production and storage vessels.

The Delfin developers have already been awarded a deepwater port licence by the US Maritime Administration and the venture has been approved by the US Coast Guard.

Delfin then asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a three-year and six-month extension until 28th March, 2023 to build facilities to connect up to the FLNG units 30 miles off the coast.

Sempra Energy, the owner of the Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana, also sees and extension linked to its Costa Azul project on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

Costa Azul, which recently reached a final investment decision for its mid-scale project, has DoE authorization to import and liquefy US-sourced natural gas for export from Mexico.

“Critical to our Nation’s energy independence are the prospects presented by these long-term LNG export extensions,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes.

“LNG is and will continue to be a vital energy resource for our friends and allies around the world,” added Menezes.

These issuances extend each project’s long-term LNG export authorization to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries through December 31, 2050.

Acting Under Secretary of Energy and Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy Steven Winberg said the move was necessary.

“It is important for DOE to do everything to assure a long-term future for US LNG exports, which will continue to meet global energy security and emissions reduction goals,” added Winberg.

Including the term extension applications just granted, long-term LNG export authorizations with export terms through 2050 are now held by 13 US LNG export projects, as well as the Costa Azul project in Mexico.

The leading US liquefied natural gas industry body said it expected five export projects along the Gulf Coast to take positive final investment decisions in the next 12 months after just two were sanctioned so far in 2019 while American supplies could be directed at Europe in particular.

Several leading US LNG project developers and natural gas companies plan to accompany US President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on a visit to Beijing in November to seek supply deals.

Delfin LNG, the most advanced US floating export development proposed for offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, has had its permit approved by regulators to reactivate and construct facilities on its onshore pipeline in Cameron Parish.

Delfin LNG, the project proposing to construct the first US floating liquefaction and export plant to be located offshore Cameron Parish in Louisiana, has signed a joint development agreement with experienced Norwegian player and shipping company Golar LNG.

The US Department of Energy has approved a long-term export application from the first floating liquefied natural gas production project in North America, the Delfin LNG joint venture proposed for the Gulf of Mexico offshore Louisiana.

The US Delfin LNG export venture planned for 50 miles offshore Cameron Parish, Louisiana, has signed a $1.5 billion financing contract with the state-owned Korean Development Bank to help guarantee the construction of three project vessels at South Korean shipyards.