USA: Freeport LNG project moves ahead

The construction of the Freeport LNG liquefaction and pretreatment facilities located on Quintana Island in Texas has advanced with many of the large, process components arriving on site. 

One of the critical components is the main cryogenic heat exchanger, a 164 feet (Approx: 50 meters) high piece of process machinery, with a total estimated empty weight of 713,630 pounds (over 320 tons).

The facility’s heat exchangers have been designed and manufactured by Air Products, and transported to the construction dock at the Freeport LNG facility terminal on Quintana Island.

Upon arrival, the unit was transported from the dock to its foundation where it was erected and connected to the process plant piping.

Freeport LNG added that two weeks after the arrival of the first heat exchanger, the first of three compressors for train one were also delivered.

The compressors will be paired with electric motors developed by GE, and according to Freeport LNG, these are among the largest designed for liquefaction compression and will see their first operation at the Freeport LNG terminal.

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.

LNG World News Staff