Souki-Houston venture files with FERC for Louisiana LNG export plant

Driftwood LNG has last week filed a request with the U.S. FERC to initiate the pre-filing environmental review process for its proposed LNG export facility and associated pipeline.

The company is developing an LNG production and export terminal on the west bank of the Calcasieu River, south of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Once complete, the terminal will be able to export up to twenty-six million tonnes of LNG per year, according to Driftwood LNG.

Driftwood LNG is a subsidiary of Tellurian LNG, that was formed in February this year by former CEO of Cheniere Energy, Charif Souki and former COO and executive director of BG Group, Martin Houston.

According to the documents filed with FERC, Driftwood LNG (DWLNG) plans commencing construction by the second quarter of 2018, with the first plant becoming operational in 2022. The overall project construction is expected to be complete in 2025.

The facility site will cover an area of approximately 800 acres. DWLNG said it had purchased approximately 140 acres and has leased an additional 475 acres of the facility site with the right to enter into a long-term lease for up to a total of fifty years.

In total, the project would produce up to 26 MTPA of LNG for export, requiring up to four billion cubic feet per day of feed gas. The liquefaction facility will consist of five LNG plants. Each plant is comprised of one gas pre-treatment unit and four liquefaction units, DWLNG said.

The chilled fuel would be stored onsite in four storage tanks with a capacity of approximately 175,000 cbm each.

The marine loading facility, that would be located along the Calcasieu River, includes three berths for LNG ships ranging from 125,000 cbm up to 216,000 cbm cargo capacity, DWLNG said.

As per the pipeline, DWLNG intends to develop a new open access interstate pipeline to connect with multiple, existing interstate pipeline systems.

DWLNG plans to conduct an open season for the 96-mile long pipeline prior to the submission of the Section 7 application, and is currently evaluating routing for the pipeline.

DWLNG also revealed it has engaged several contractors to assist in the development of the LNG project. The contractors, among others, include Bechtel, Chart and Clough.

LNG World News Staff