USA: Cove Point nearing first LNG exports

Dominion Energy’s Cove Point LNG export terminal in Maryland, the second US facility to produce LNG from shale gas, is expected to ship its first cargo of the fuel soon.

Dominion introduced feed gas to the 5.25 mtpa liquefaction facility earlier this month.

The Shell-chartered LNG tanker Maran Gas Delphi was on Thursday located in the Chesapeake Bay with is AIS data showing Cove Point as final destination, according to the marine data provider, VesselsValue.

The 159,800-cbm Maran Gas Delphi is carrying a shipment from Nigeria’s Bonny LNG export plant. The cargo will probably be used for cool-down operations of the Cove Point plant.

Dominion said before that Shell would provide the natural gas needed for liquefaction during the commissioning process and will off-take the LNG that is produced.

When commissioning is complete, Dominion’s LNG export facility will produce the chilled fuel for ST Cove Point, the joint venture of Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Gas, and for India’s GAIL under 20-year contracts.

Once in operation, the $4 billion Cove Point facility will be the second US exporter of LNG sourced from shale gas.

To remind, Houston-based LNG export player Cheniere became the first in February last year when its Sabine Pass liquefaction plant shipped its first cargo to Brazil.

LNG World News Staff