Freeport LNG celebrates start of Train 1 production

McDermott International has stated that Train 1 of the Freeport LNG plant on Quintana Island in Freeport, Texas, has begun producing liquefied natural gas (LNG).

McDermott said that, while production is in the initial phases, this significant project milestone was a precursor to first cargo expected later this month. In a separate statement, Osaka Gas stated that first LNG production occurred on August 12.

Mark Coscio, McDermott’s SVP for North, Central, and South America, said: “When a facility starts producing a product, it is always a notable achievement, especially for large-scale projects, such as Freeport LNG.

“We are proud of the project team, which has worked hard to accomplish this milestone with exceptional safety performance during the construction phase. We look forward to celebrating first cargo for Train 1 soon with the same focus to safety and quality.”

Zachry Group partnered with McDermott for the Pre-FEED in 2011, followed by FEED works to support the early development stage of Trains 1 and 2 of the project.

Later, Chiyoda joined duo and they provided engineering, procurement, and facility construction as well as commissioning and initial operations for Train 3 of the project.

The project scope includes three pre-treatment trains, a liquefaction facility with three trains, a second loading berth, and a 165,000 cbm full containment LNG storage tank.

Freeport LNG Trains 2 and 3 remain on track to meet their previously announced schedules with Train 2 initial production of LNG scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019 while initial production from Train 3 is scheduled for the first quarter of 2020.

The also planned Train 4 is expected to add over 5 million tonnes per annum of LNG production to the project, increasing the total export capability of the facility to over 20 mtpa.

Approximately 13.5 mtpa of this capacity was contracted under 20-year tolling agreements to Osaka Gas, JERA Energy, BP, Total, and SK E&S LNG, and approximately 0.5 mtpa was contracted to Trafigura under a 3-year sale and purchase agreement beginning in 2020.

It is worth reminding that Train 1 at the Freeport LNG reached the final commissioning stage in late July while the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted a permit to start exporting commissioning cargoes from the facility earlier this month.