Adverse weather hampers U.S. LNG exports

Liquefied natural gas exports from the U.S. have edged down on week, as adverse weather conditions disrupted the passage of large ships through the Sabine Pass waterway. 

During the week ending February 6, U.S. LNG export facilities dispatched a total of five cargoes with a combined load capacity of 17.3 billion cubic feet of LNG, Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report.

Three cargoes departed from Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility and two more from Dominion’s Cove Point facility in Maryland.

However, foggy conditions caused a decline in exports from the Sabine Pass terminal, which prompted closure of the Sabine Pass waterway for large ships, including LNG ships, since February 2. It will reopen when heavy fog subsides, according to the Sabine Pilots Association.

An LNG tanker, which has been docked at Sabine Pass since February 1, began maneuvers to depart the berth on Wednesday, February 6, indicating that the restrictions may have been lifted.

U.S. LNG exports in January have set another record with 37 exported cargoes, 28 from Sabine Pass, 6 from Cove Point, and 3 from Corpus Christi, exceeding the previous record in December of 36 exported cargoes, EIA said.