USA: Freeport LNG export project progressing

The construction of Freeport LNG’s liquefaction and pretreatment facilities located on Quintana Island in Texas is moving beyond foundation work and structures have begun to rise well above ground level.

Freeport LNG, led by Michael Smith, Chairman and CEO, is constructing liquefaction infrastructure at the existing terminal to export about 13.9 mtpa of LNG. The feed gas will be sourced from the interconnecting intrastate pipeline systems through Freeport LNG’s existing Stratton Ridge meter station.

“By this time, about 55,000 cubic yards of concrete have been put in place on the LQF and PTF sites combined,” Freeport LNG said in the latest project update.

According to the construction update, Freeport LNG has started building the new LNG berth accommodating cargo transfer facilities.

“After the recent completion of the dredging of 1.18 million cubic yards of material to expand the basin, Weeks Marine is now in the process of completing the jetty-head and current-diversion piles, and has started to drive piles for Dock 2’s mooring dolphins. Foundations are also being built for the pipe rack that will support cargo-transfer lines between the Dock 2 and the storage tanks.”

At completion of work, the original berth will be able to accommodate Q-max tankers, and the new berth will be constructed to accommodate vessels carrying cargoes of up to 180,000 cubic meters of LNG.

Construction of the third tank is also underway, Freeport LNG said, adding that crews are bringing up the carbon-steel liner and the exterior concrete wall.

“When those are completed, the tank roof assembly will commence inside the vessel as well as the welding of the 9% nickel-steel structural plate that will become the vessel’s interior wall. Finally, the head will be lifted and put into position using air pressure and then the concrete dome will be cast on top.”

To remind, Freeport LNG has recently been granted by the U.S. FERC to increase the LNG production level at its terminal currently under construction from 1.8 billion cubic feet per day to 2.14 Bcf per day.

Freeport LNG earlier said the increased production capacity reflects “facilities’ actual capabilities”, adding that initial nameplate capacity was determined during the early stages of front-end engineering design of the liquefaction project, using very conservative design and operating assumptions.

The first two trains are expected to commence operations by September 2018 and February 2019, respectively, with the third train expected to be in operation approximately six months following the second train, according to Freeport LNG.