Gallery: Cheniere close to completing Sabine Pass LNG Train 3

U.S. LNG export player Cheniere is progressing construction activities at its Sabine Pass liquefaction and export project in Louisiana.

The company said in its monthly construction report that the Stage 2 activities, which include the liquefactions trains three and four, have been 95.5 percent complete at the end of December.

Stage 3 activities, which include the construction of the fifth liquefaction train was ahead of schedule in December reaching 52.4 percent completion.

During December 2016, the restoration of above ground pipe has been completed at Train 3.

The majority of the remaining construction work includes pipe insulation, and completion of the lighting system, Cheniere said. Startup activities

Startup activities continued in Train 3 with the circulation of hot oil, running of the ethylene compressors on nitrogen, high-pressure leak checks, and system defrost. Loading of perlite into the Train 3 cold boxes was also completed during December.

In January, the third liquefaction train began receiving gas from the Transco pipeline.

Activities in Train 4 continue with a focus on the installation of above ground piping, pipe testing, pipe restoration and compressor fit-out activities. In the Train 4 compressor area, mineral and synthetic lube oil flushes are ongoing.

On Stage 3 activities continued with the concrete batch plant subcontract and the award of the equipment insulation material supply subcontract. OSBL firewater pipe installation continued, the reports says.

Installation of foundations in the ISBL and OSBL areas continued with the last section of the compressor table top, for the methane compressor, and the water treatment building foundations poured. Steel erection continued in the cryo rack, mercury removal, fuel gas facilities, propane

Steel erection continued in the cryo rack, mercury removal, fuel gas facilities, propane condenser area, AGRU pipe rack, under compressor tabletop, and OSBL main north-south pipe rack.

Above ground pipe installation continued in cryo rack, AGRU pipe rack, and mercury removal area. Above ground pipe fabrication continued for under compressor tabletop. OSBL structural steel erection continued for the main north-south pipe rack and commenced for the water treatment building pipe rack. Revamp structural steel and above ground pipe installation continued, Cheniere said.

The OSBL substation was set. OSBL and ISBL sitework continued with roads installation, final grading, and trenches and culverts installation.

Train 3 substantial completion is estimated to be June 2017 based on actual construction progress realized, Cheniere said, adding that the Train 4 progress will be monitored over the coming months for any potential impact on the August 2017 substantial completion target.

The Sabine Pass liquefaction facility is the first of its kind to export abundant U.S. shale gas to overseas markets.

Cheniere is developing and constructing up to six liquefaction trains at Sabine Pass, which are in various stages of development. Each train is expected to have a nominal production capacity of about 4.5 mtpa of LNG. Below is the gallery showing the construction progress at the facility.

LNG World News Staff