liquefaction
The Cameron Liquefaction Project involves the construction and addition of natural gas liquefaction and export facilities to the existing LNG regasification facility at Cameron LNG. Initial production for the project is expected in 2018, while full commercial operation is expected in 2019.
The new facility will feature three liquefaction trains with a combined capacity of 13.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas (LNG). It will enable the partners to export up to 12 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) or 1.7 billion cubic feet per day of LNG for 20 years.
The front end engineering design (FEED) phase for the project commenced in November 2011 and the conditional non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) approval from the US Department of Energy (DOE) was granted in February 2014. The approval enables the project partners to export LNG to countries, including those in Europe and Asia that have not signed a FTA with the US.
The final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project was issued in April 2014. Construction work is expected to start following the announcement of the final investment decision (FID), which is expected in 2014. The overall development cost of the project is expected to reach between $9bn to $10bn.
Point Fortin Refinery / LNG Liquefaction Plant, Trinidad and Tobago
Atlantic LNG constructed two LNG trains at the Point Fortin Refinery in early 2000.
The project is expected to generate more than 1,300 onsite jobs and approximately 3,000 people are expected to be involved during the peak construction period. The project is also expected to boost the US economy by generating $2bn per year during the construction phase and $14bn to $18bn per year during the operational phase.
Cameron LNG terminal features
Cameron LNG is an LNG receipt terminal covering an area of 118.6 acres along the Calcasieu Channel in Hackberry, Louisiana. The terminal came online in July 2009 and is currently fed with natural gas by LNG carriers.
The terminal features two marine berths, three LNG storage tanks with a combined capacity of 480,000m³, and a regasification terminal for vaporisation of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day of gas. It is currently owned by Cameron LNG, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy.
Partners involved in the development of the Cameron liquefaction project
The joint venture agreement and the tolling agreement will be finalised following the announcement of the FID. A subsidiary of Sempra Energy will have a 50.2% ownership in the newly planned LNG terminal, while the other partners include GDF Suez (16.6%), a consortium of Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (16.6%), and Mitsui (16.6%).
GDF Suez, the partnership of Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, and Mitsui will each have 4Mtpa of tolling capacity from the facility for 20 years.
Cameron Liquefaction Project details
The project will be constructed over an area of about 502 acres, covering around 70 acres of the existing terminal. It will make use of regasification facilities at the existing Cameron LNG receipt terminal.
In addition to the construction of the three liquefaction trains, the project also involves the construction of a 160,000m³ full-containment LNG storage tank, facilities for refrigerant make-up and condensate product storage, expansion of the Cameron Interstate Pipeline by installing a 33.79km and 42in diameter pipeline, installation of a 56,820hp compressor station, a heavy hydrocarbon removal unit and ancillary facilities.
“The new pipeline will enable two-directional flow of natural gas from the expanded terminal and the Cameron Interstate Pipeline.”
A truck loading / unloading area and a marine work dock will also be built to assist the construction works. Electricity required for the project will be conveyed through a 12mi long double-circuit 230kV transmission line to be constructed by Entergy. Three 1.5MW diesel-fuelled stand-by generators will also be installed at the site to provide power back up.
The new pipeline will enable two-directional flow of natural gas from the expanded terminal and the Cameron Interstate Pipeline by further connecting with five major interstate pipelines. The new pipeline will traverse the Cameron, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes. The compressor station will comprise of 12 CAT G3616 natural gas-driven compressors and minor adjustments will also be made to the existing metering and interconnection facilities.
Contractors involved with the liquefaction project
The EIS for the project was prepared by the staff of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with assistance from the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, US Department of Energy, and the US Department of Transportation.
The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, valued at $6bn, was awarded to Chiyoda and CB&I. The FEED work was carried out by Foster Wheeler, who is also providing technical assistance for the project development.
