Venture Global’S Calcasieu Pass Lng Export Project Starts Operations

Venture Global has started commercial operations at its Calcasieu Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, south of the city of Lake Charles.

The company has also started the sale of low-cost, US LNG to the long-term customers of the project. 

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The project, notable for its rapid completion, started commercial operations in just 68 months after the final investment decision in August 2019.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently gave the green light for full operations at the Calcasieu Pass facility and its associated TransCameron pipeline in Louisiana.

This project will help bolster the US trade, particularly with European allies, through multi-billion-dollar contracts.

Despite facing substantial challenges such as a global pandemic, two hurricanes and a force majeure event related to manufacturing issues with the power island, the project’s owner-led approach to construction helped complete the project.

Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said: “I am incredibly proud of our team who have worked relentlessly and diligently to successfully construct and commission our first LNG project. We are excited to reach this milestone and are grateful for our regulators and supply chain partners who have worked with our team to reach commercial operations as efficiently and safely as possible.”

The Calcasieu Pass facility covers 432 acres and has a mile of deep waterfront.

It includes 18 liquefaction units capable of processing 626,000 tonnes per annum, arranged in nine blocks, along with three units for gas pre-treatment.

The site offers two berths for loading ships up to 185,000m³ and has two LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 200,000m³.

Additionally, the operation includes a 720MW gas turbine power plant with an extra 23MW gas turbine on site.

The facility offers some of the most competitive liquefaction fees in the global market, with rates below $2 per million British thermal units.

Long-term sales and purchase agreements ensure that customers will benefit from low-cost North American LNG throughout the 20-year contract duration.