MARAD calls for comments on Delfin LNG DEIS

The Maritime Administration (MARAD), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, on Friday called for comments on draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Delfin LNG deepwater port project.

The proposed Delfin LNG deepwater port would be located in Federal waters within the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) approximately 37.4 to 40.8 nautical miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, MARAD said in its notice.

The notice of availability of the DEIS opens a 45-day comment period and MARAD and USCG request public participation in the environmental impact review process. The comment period closes on August 29.

Delfin LNG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fairwood Peninsula Energy,  is proposing to construct, own, operate and eventually decommission a deepwater port in the Gulf of Mexico to liquefy domestically sourced natural gas for export. Exports are proposed to both Free Trade Agreement nations and non-FTA nations.

It would consist of four semi-permanently moored Floating LNG vessels and the project would reuse and repurpose two existing offshore natural gas pipelines, the former U–T Operating System (UTOS) pipeline and the High Island Operating System (HIOS) pipeline. Four new 30-inch diameter pipeline laterals, each approximately 6,400 feet in length, connecting the HIOS pipeline to each of the FLNGVs, would be constructed.

Each vessel would have a total LNG storage capacity of 210,000 cubic meters, and the offloading system at the deep water port would be capable of accommodating tankers with up to 170,000 cbm capacity.

Approximately 31 LNG tankers are expected to visit each of the four FLNGVs per year for a total of up to 124 cargo transfer operations per year.

All four vessels would have a production capacity of 3 million tons per year of LNG totaling 12 mtpa for the peoject, however, it is anticipated that with the optimization the project would be capable of producing 13.2 mtpa.

LNG engineer Bechtel has been contracted to perform front-end engineering and design for the floating liquefied natural gas vessel.

The anticipated commissioning of FLNGV 1 is the third quarter of 2019 with start-up of commercial operation of FLNGV 1 by the end of 2019.

It is anticipated that FLNGVs 2 through 4 would be commissioned 12 months apart. Following this schedule and barring unforeseen events, the Delfin deepwater port would be completed and all four FLNGVs would be fully operational by the summer of 2022.

LNG World News Staff