LNG

Tellurian Inc., the developer of the Driftwood liquefied natural gas export plant near Lake Charles in Louisiana, has moved to agree an amendment to the terms of certain debts after a month of various key decisions.

Tellurian said the amendment was expected to enhance near-term liquidity and provide the company with flexibility to successfully complete the sale of its upstream assets. 

Among other items, the amendment provisions include a reduction in Tellurian’s minimum cash balance requirement and the ability for the company to make its upcoming interest payments in-kind.

“This amendment to our debt agreement is pivotal towards establishing a sustainable capital structure and accelerating our strategic priority, Driftwood LNG,” explained Chief Executive Octávio Simões.

“It also provides us the time and flexibility to complete the sale of our upstream assets in a manner that maximizes value for our shareholders while we maintain our focus on the intensive negotiations associated with the commercialization of Driftwood LNG,” stated Simões.

Capacity

The Driftwood project involves constructing 20 mid-scale processing Trains, each with 1.38 MTPA of capacity and built as five blocks of Trains.

The Phase One development would include the first two of these blocks for 11 MTPA of output and two of three planned 235,000 cubic metres storage tanks and the first of three planned loading berths for LNG carriers.

Analysts note that it has been a busy February 2024 for Tellurian as it also said it was exploring the sale  of Haynesville Shale basin upstream natural gas assets.

Tellurian has engaged the investment bank Lazards to explore opportunities for the sale of the gas assets.

The Houston, Texas-based company said that it had concluded that there were alternative gas supply strategies available to Tellurian from various basins and its ownership of upstream gas wells was not necessary at this stage of the liquefaction plant’s development.

Tellurian’s natural gas assets include 31,149 net acres, interests in 159 producing wells and over 400 drilling locations in the Haynesville Shale.

On the regulatory front, Tellurian was also told in mid-February that the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had issued an extension to its order authorizing the construction of Tellurian’s plant.

Building deadline

As extended, the order requires construction to be completed by April 18, 2029. 

Tellurian applied for the extension back in 2023 to ensure it had enough time to complete the construction of all five LNG Trains for the facility with a nameplate capacity of  27.6 MTPA.

Tellurian’s main contractor for the Driftwood construction is the US engineering company Bechtel Energy.

In September 2023, Tellurian signed an agreement with US LNG-equipment supplier Baker Hughes to secure a delivery schedule for eight LM6000PF+ gas turbines, main refrigerant compressors and control units required for Phase One construction.

Tellurian said the Baker Hughes agreement supported its aim of having the Driftwood venture achieving initial LNG production in four years’ time. 

Tellurian Inc., the developer of the Driftwood liquefied natural gas LNG export plant near Lake Charles in Louisiana, has given an update of engineering work being carried out by Bechtel Energy and costs per tonne of LNG.

The $1.5-billion US Driftwood Pipeline project comprising two feed-gas lines for the liquefied natural gas export plant in Louisiana has been formally approved by regulators.

Tellurian, the Driftwood project developer, said in a statement that the pipelines, known as Line 200 and Line 300, would be constructed in Beauregard Parish and Calcasieu Parish in the Gulf Coast state.

The Houston, Texas-based company, said the pipelines would be capable of delivering up to 5.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.

Tellurian said the pipelines would have “virtually no emissions” due to the implementation of electric-powered Integrated Compressor Line (ICL) technology from US energy technology and services company Baker Hughes.

The company said the permits were awarded by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 21.

Bechtel contract

Leading US LNG engineering company Bechtel Energy has already been given limited notice to proceed with construction of Phase One of the Driftwood liquefaction plant.

The Tellurian project involves constructing 20 mid-scale processing Trains, each with 1.38 MTPA of capacity and built as five blocks of four Trains.

The Phase One development would include the first two of these blocks with 11 MTPA of output and two of three planned 235,000 cubic metres storage tanks and the first of three planned loading berths for LNG carriers.

“Tellurian thanks the FERC for their thorough and collaborative review of our Driftwood Pipeline Project and we look forward to delivering natural gas in a cleaner and highly reliable way to Southwest Louisiana,” said Tellurian President and Chief Executive Octávio Simões.

Earlier in April, Tellurian signed an accord to sell the site of the Driftwood plant near Lake Charles to New York-based institutional investors.

Tellurian said that the sale and lease back deal had been the subject of a binding letter of intent for the 800 acres of land owned by Tellurian’s subsidiary, Driftwood LNG LLC.

Master lease

The agreement will see Tellurian receiving $1 billion for the land and a lease.

“It will consist of the sale by Driftwood LNG and purchase by a special purpose entity to be formed by the investor of Driftwood LNG’s interests in the property for $1.0Bln pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement,” said Tellurian.

On the closing of the transaction a 40-year lease of the property from the purchaser to Driftwood LNG will be signed in the form of a master lease.

There is also a requirement that the equity investors in Driftwood LNG become joint and contingent guarantors of the master lease.

Tellurian Inc. has signed an accord to sell the site of the proposed Driftwood liquefied natural gas plant in Lake Charles in Louisiana to a New York-based institutional investor.

Tellurian said in a stock exchange filing that the sale and lease back deal has been the subject of a binding letter of intent for the 800 acres of land owned by Tellurian’s subsidiary, Driftwood LNG LLC.

The agreement with the unnamed investment firm with $120 billion in assets under management will see Tellurian receiving $1 billion for the land and a lease.

“It will consist of the sale by Driftwood LNG and purchase by a special purpose entity to be formed by the investor of Driftwood LNG’s interests in the property for $1.0Bln pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement,” said Tellurian.

On the closing of the transaction a 40-year lease of the property from the purchaser to Driftwood LNG will be signed in the form of a master lease.

The terms of the master lease will include, among other requirements, a capitalization rate of 8.75 percent and annual rent escalators of 3.00 percent as well as a requirement that Driftwood LNG posts a letter of credit equal to 12 months of rent.

Guarantors

There is also a requirement that the equity investors in Driftwood LNG become joint and contingent guarantors of the master lease.

“The master lease contingent guarantors are also required to hold an investment grade rating of BBB or higher or attain an equivalent shadow credit rating, or be otherwise acceptable to the purchaser,” noted Tellurian in its filing.

The Houston-based company is quoted on the American list of the New York Stock Exchange.

The accord contemplates that the parties will use “commercially reasonable efforts” to finalize the purchase agreement and master lease on or before July 14, 2023.

“The LOI will terminate on July 14, 2023 if Driftwood LNG fails to identify the contingent guarantors by such date and will terminate on July 31,” it said.

The satisfaction of the closing conditions in the purchase agreement also including Driftwood LNG securing financing commitments for Phase One of the LNG export project.

Leading US LNG engineering company Bechtel Energy has already been given limited notice to proceed with construction of Phase One of the Driftwood liquefaction plant.

The Tellurian project involves constructing 20 mid-scale processing Trains, each with 1.38 MTPA of capacity and built as five blocks of four Trains.

The Phase One development would include the first two of these blocks with 11 MTPA of output and two of three planned 235,000 cubic metres storage tanks and the first of three planned loading berths for LNG carriers.

Tellurian Inc., the developer of the Driftwood LNG export plant near Lake Charles in Louisiana, said in an earnings presentation that it expected about $9.7 billion in cash flow once the full project was on stream as it reported narrowed losses in the third quarter and more revenue from natural gas sales.

Tellurian Inc., the developer of the Driftwood LNG export plant in Louisiana, saw its shares plunge 40 percent on the week as it cancelled two sales and purchase agreements with UK major Shell and global commodities firm Vitol and said it had formulated a new financing strategy.

Shares in Tellurian tumbled by 15.60 percent in one day to $2.33 per share from $2.77 per share on the New York Stock Exchange American list after the statement saying it was seeking a strategic partner to pursue the venture.

The shares were down about 40 percent on the week through September 23 after negative reports emerged on the stock and the progress of the company to a final investment decision.

“The potential corporate and strategic partners we are seeking may want liquefied natural gas volumes that they can sell globally and now we have some capacity to offer that option,” said President and Chief Executive Octávio Simões.

Construction

“We have made good progress on our construction plan and will continue funding that with our cash and operating cash flow,” added the CEO. Tellurian's recent income has come from Haynesville shale gas sales and previously from some LNG trading

Houston. Texas-based Tellurian had initially said it would raise $1 billion by selling bonds to help finance Driftwood LNG for which some site clearing and preliminary work had already started at the site near Lake Charles and ahead of an FID.

Tellurian Executive Chairman Charif Souki said the focus was now on finding a strategic investor for the $12 billion project which had signed three SPAs in mid-2021 with Shell Vitol and with another global commodities firm Gunvor, whose SPA remains in place.

The strategy change followed previous unsuccessful talks with possible equity shareholders in return for them buying debt.

Tellurian’s SPAs with Shell and Vitol were for 3 million tonnes per annum of LNG each for 10 years from the first liquefaction Trains from the venture scheduled to come on stream in 2026 and with regulatory approvals for 27.6 MTPA of output.

Setback

“It sets us back, definitely. It puts in jeopardy the ability to deliver gas on the schedule that we were hoping to stick to,” explained Chairman Souki.

CEO Simões explained that what has not changed for Tellurian was that it was already operating as a natural gas producer with revenues from gas sales.

“Last quarter we produced 9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and had over $61 million in sales, and since then we have closed the EnSight acquisition,” noted Simões.

“Currently we have 11 natural gas wells in various stages of completion and therefore expect a significant increase in production and sales next quarter,” he said.

“In addition, we will add to our value when our fully permitted Driftwood LNG project is completed, and we can reach the global markets with LNG sales at global prices,” he stated.

Tellurian Inc., the developer of the Driftwood LNG export project in Louisiana, has purchased more assets in the Haynesville Shale to boost feed gas resources when the plant comes on stream.

The Houston, Texas-based company entered into an agreement to purchase natural gas assets from the privately held companies EnSight IV Energy Partners LLC and EnSight Haynesville Partners LLC.

The purchase price was $125 million, subject to customary closing adjustments, and a contingent payment of $7.5M based on the price of natural gas and which may be payable in March 2023 under certain conditions.

Tellurian said it would fund the purchase with cash on hand and anticipates finalizing the acquisition of the EnSight assets in the third quarter of 2022.

Driftwood project owner Tellurian has existing gas field assets in the Haynesville Shale which extends through areas located in East Texas and Western Louisiana.

Tellurian produced 6.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas in the first quarter of 2022 compared with 4.9 Bcf for the previous quarter.

Its existing upstream assets in the Basin include 13,521 net acres and interests in 82 producing wells as of March 2022.

Export project

The Driftwood LNG export plant has permits to produce 27.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG and has 10-year offtake agreements with the likes of Shell North America and global commodities firms Vitol and Gunvor.

The Tellurian project involves constructing 20 mid-scale processing Trains, each with 1.38 MTPA of capacity, and built as five blocks of four Trains.

The Phase One development would include the first two of these blocks with 11 MTPA of output and two of three planned 235,000 cubic metres storage tanks and the first of three planned loading berths for LNG carriers.

On its new Haynesville assets, Tellurian said current net production was 45 million cubic feet of natural gas per day with the fields having 100 percent natural gas.

The purchase covers around 5,000 net acres in the core of the Haynesville Shale in DeSoto, Bossier, Caddo, and Webster Parishes and with 44 producing wells and five wells in progress.

With this deal Tellurian said that its Haynesville Shale acreage increased to 20,000 net acres, with 275 gross drilling locations and a net resource expected at 2 trillion cubic feet.

“We have been diligently growing our natural gas production and reserves in the Haynesville,” said John Howie, head of Tellurian’s natural gas fields.

“These assets provide Tellurian with both cash flow and a physical hedge for Driftwood LNG,” added Howie.

“The EnSight asset is a great fit with Tellurian’s existing position in the Haynesville Shale and allows us to step into an ongoing development program and bring on-line significant additional natural gas volumes in the fourth quarter of 2022,” he stated.

Tellurian Inc., the developer of the Driftwood LNG export project in Louisiana, has awarded a contract to US oil and gas services company Baker Hughes for key equipment.

Baker Hughes has been awarded a contract by Driftwood Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Tellurian, to provide electric-powered Integrated compressor line technology and turbo-machinery equipment for several lines as part of a natural gas transmission project proposed for Beauregard and Calcasieu Parishes in southwest Louisiana.

Tellurian President and Chief Executive Octávio Simões said that the landmark project and technology would eliminate nearly all emissions for the proposed project.

“We value the expertise of Baker Hughes and look forward to partnering on delivering cleaner solutions for an energy-hungry world,” stated the Tellurian CEO.

Joey Mahmoud, President of Tellurian Pipelines, said that he anticipated the project would supply upwards of five and one-half billion cubic feet of natural gas daily, with virtually no emissions.

“Tellurian is doing its part by making this initial $240 million pipeline investment as part of the broader Driftwood Pipeline system which will provide enhanced supply reliability to meet the area’s projected industrial growth in a cleaner, more sustainable manner,” explained Mahmoud.

Capacity

The Driftwood LNG export plant has permits to produce 27.6 million tonnes per annum of LNG and has 10-year offtake agreements with Shell North America and global commodities firms Vitol and Gunvor.

The Tellurian project involves constructing 20 mid-scale processing Trains, each with 1.38 MTPA of capacity, and built as five blocks of four Trains.

The Phase One development would include the first two of these blocks with 11 MTPA of output and two of three planned 235,000 cubic metres storage tanks and the first of three planned loading berths for LNG carriers.

Tellurian said that this contract marked the first time Baker Hughes would install its decarbonization technology for pipeline compression in North America.

“The project will initially include four 19 megawatt (MW) compressors and other turbo-machinery equipment for a total of four compressor trains, as well as a LM6000PF+ gas turbine for backup power for the initial phase of the pipeline project at Driftwood’s Indian Bayou Compressor Station,” said Houston-based Tellurian.

Rod Christie, executive vice president of turbo-machinery and process solutions at Baker Hughes, said that its customers around the world were seeking decarbonization solutions.

“Our zero-emissions ICL technology is already reducing the climate footprint of pipeline projects in many regions that deliver vital gas supplies, and now we are bringing it to North America, a region crucial to meeting global natural gas demand,” added Christie.

Baker Hughes said that its extended portfolio of technologies contribute to lower the carbon footprint across the natural gas supply chain, which is viewed by many as a critical path for the energy transition.

Chart Industries, the US LNG equipment-maker and industrial gases technology company, said it was given full notice to proceed on its processing and equipment activities for Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi Stage Three LNG expansion project.

The Corpus Christi expansion will consist of up to seven mid-scale Trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 MTPA with a total production capacity of more than 10 MTPA.

The existing Corpus Christy facility has nameplate capacity of 13.5 MTPA from three Trains.

In conjunction with the FNTP, Chart said it had booked an order valued at over $260 million, which is in addition to the approximately $50M already in backlog as of the end of March for this project.

The orders were received from Bechtel Inc, the lead engineer in the expansion of Cheniere’s Texas plant.

Chart said it would begin recognizing revenue on the Corpus Christi project in 2022 with a multi-year staggered delivery schedule for its equipment, including its IPMSR® processing technology.

Orders build

Chart's recent equipment orders from Gulf Coast LNG export projects have also included provisions for Venture Global’s Plaquemines Phase 1 project for 10 MTPA of LNG at a Louisiana site on the Mississippi River south of New Orleans.

Additionally Chart said the Driftwood project in Louisiana being developed by Houston-based Tellurian Inc. is anticipated to include over $350M of Chart content.

Chart itself continues to grow its technology and services offerings and completed the acquisition at the start of June 2022 of Fronti Fabrications Inc., a specialist in engineering, machining and welding for the cryogenic and gas sectors.

Chart, based in Atlanta, Georgia believes the acquisition will benefit the company’s growing order base in the “Big LNG” and small-scale LNG sectors in the US and elsewhere.

With over 20 years of experience in liquefaction, heat exchangers and cold boxes, Fronti adds a known team to expand Chart’s cold-box manufacturing capacity and capability.

Chart noted that Fronti, which was purchased for $20M, also supplies newbuild pressure vessels and performs repairs with certification to the code of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 

Chart Industries Inc., the US maker of LNG and industrial gases equipment whose most recent orders were for major US LNG export plants on the Gulf Coast, has completed the acquisition of a Swedish company CSC Cryogenic Service Center AB to increase fuel and service offerings in the European Union.