Posted on 10/07/2015 5:34:43 AM PDT by thackney
Cheniere Energy has started the monthslong process of preparing its $18 billion Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas export terminal to crank out its first batch of super chilled gas for shipment overseas.
The Houston-based company received permission from federal regulators to pipe natural gas into the sprawling plant on a remote stretch of coastline along the border between Texas and Louisiana as it starts priming the first production facilities for start-up.
Last week, Sabine Pass LNG began bringing in small amounts of natural gas and burning some off, a process called flaring, providing early signs that the first phase of the project is nearing the finish line, according to energy research firm Genscape, which has been monitoring plant activity using a network of infrared monitors.
Three years after construction began, the flurry of commissioning activity at the Sabine Pass plant has attracted much attention, placing Cheniere on track to complete the nation’s first large-scale terminal to ship LNG from the continental U.S.
Thousands of welders, machinists and pipe fitters have been working for years to piece together the massive export terminal where natural gas will be piped in, chilled to minus 260 degrees to a liquid state, then shipped on specialized tankers to provide electricity to customers in India, England, Spain and Italy.
Once construction is done, it can take three to six months to ready the plant for production, Genscape’s Michael said.
At least four other LNG export terminals have started construction in the continental United States, including Houston-based Freeport LNG’s liquefaction project in Brazoria County and Sempra Energy’s $6 billion LNG export plant in Hackberry, La.
Sabine Liquefaction Project Schedule
July 26, 2010 – Submitted NEPA Pre-Filing Request
August 4, 2010 – FERC Approval to use Pre-Filing Process
January 31, 2011 – File NGA Section 3 Application
December 28, 2011 – Issuance of Environmental Assessment / Environmental Impact Statement
January 31, 2012 – File Initial Implementation Plan
April 16, 2012 – Issuance of Authorization
3rd Q - 2012 – Commence Construction
4Q 2015* – Liquefaction Project In-Service
http://www.cheniere.com/terminals/sabine-pass/trains-1-4/project-schedule/
My how times change, as I fondly recall 25 years ago of the many different places in the US that LNG would be landed for Import, including Sabine. Export is so much better for the USA and, based upon our wealth of natural gas, promises to last a long, long time.
How were they able to sneak this past the greenies?
Great news for America. Make money and providing good jobs. Also decreasing our trade deficit. We have more natural gas production than what we know what to do with.
And the larger production of Natural Gas provides more Natural Gas Liquids like ethane and propane for our petrochem industry. LNG is only the cheaper methane portion of the Natural Gas raw production.
4Q 2015* – Liquefaction Project In-Service
It's a private project. In Boston, it takes twice as long to rebuild one stinking bridge (Longfellow) under government contract.
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