Port Freeport channel-widening project to benefit LNG expansion

Freeport LNG Development and Port Freeport have announced the beginning of work on a project designed to widen the Port Freeport harbor channel.

On August 29, Freeport LNG, as project manager for Port Freeport’s channel-widening project, entered into an agreement with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock to widen the entrance and jetty sections of the Port Freeport ship channel from the existing 400 feet width to 600 feet. The channel’s reach extends from the port’s sea buoy to the U.S. Coast Guard station in Surfside for an approximate distance of 6.1 miles.

Dredging will not disrupt the existing rock jetties at the entrance of the port and there will be no interference with ongoing shipping activities. The work is to be completed in May 2015, Freeport LNG said in a statement.

Widening the channel entails removing approximately 3.2 million cubic yards of material, approximately 300,000 cubic yards of which is beach-quality sand.  This beach-quality sand will be used for beach nourishment and placed on sections of the beach on Quintana Island.

“We are appreciative of the close collaboration among Port Freeport, the Brazos Pilots and Freeport LNG over the past few years to advance this project through all of the necessary approvals and we are pleased to be acting as project manager on behalf of Port Freeport,” said Mark Mallett, Senior VP, Operations and Projects, Freeport LNG. “Widening the Port Freeport ship channel will not only benefit the entire region but is another important piece of the puzzle for Freeport LNG’s overall expansion plans in Brazoria County.”

Freeport LNG plans to add liquefaction infrastructure at the existing terminal to provide nominal export capacity of approximately 13.2 mtpa of LNG. The feed gas will be derived from the interconnecting intrastate pipeline systems through Freeport LNG’s existing Stratton Ridge meter station.

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Press Release; Image: Freeport LNG