FERC said last week it has granted Golden Pass LNG Terminal’s request to introduce hazardous fluids into the boil-off gas and sendout compressors, the LNG storage tanks, and the LNG pumps, and receive the LNG marine vessel (i.e. cooldown cargo).
The regulator also recently granted Golden Pass LNG’s request to introduce fuel gas into the Train 1 gas turbine and dry flare header.
The 174,000-cbm Imsaikah, which is carrying a cooldown cargo from Qatar to the LNG facility, was anchored offshore Sabine Pass and not far from the facility early on Monday, its AIS data provided by VesselsValue showed.
However, the LNG carrier then arrived at the Golden Pass facility later on Monday.
In September, Golden Pass LNG secured approval from the US DOE to export previously imported LNG from October.
The JV requested that DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management issue an order granting GPLNG to engage in short-term exports of up to 50 Bcf of LNG, on a cumulative basis, that will have been previously imported into the US from foreign sources.
The LNG supplies will either be re-exported or regasified to be used as fuel gas at the facility.
Golden Pass LNG said in an update on October 29 that it will be receiving a cooldown cargo arriving in early December with off-loading taking place thereafter.
“This is a normal part of our planned commissioning and start-up activities as we work towards first LNG and begin to deliver clean energy from Texas to power the world,” the JV said.
Trains 2 and 3
Last month, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods said that the Golden Pass LNG export project remains on track to produce first LNG volumes from the first train by the end of this year.
State-owned QatarEnergy owns a 70 percent stake in the Golden Pass project with a capacity of more than 18 mtpa and will offtake 70 percent of the capacity, while US energy firm ExxonMobil has a 30 percent share.
A joint venture of Chiyoda, McDermott, and Zachry won the EPC contract to build the three Golden Pass trains worth about $10 billion next to the existing LNG import terminal in the vicinity of Sabine Pass, Texas.
However, Zachry Holdings said in May 2024 that it had filed for bankruptcy, initiating a structured exit from the Golden Pass LNG export project due to “financial challenges” related to the facility’s construction.
In November 2024, Japan’s Chiyoda and McDermott’s CB&I reached a deal with Golden Pass LNG to complete the construction of the first liquefaction train following the exit of Zachry.
Additionally, Chiyoda and McDermott recently signed a revised EPC contract with Golden Pass LNG to complete the construction of the second and third liquefaction units.
