Cameron LNG Train 3 begins final commissioning

Sempra LNG, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, has begun final commissioning of the three-train Phase 1 of its Cameron LNG liquefaction plant in Hackberry, La., introducing pipeline feed gas flow to its last liquefaction train. Commercial operation of Train 3 remains on track to begin third-quarter 2020.

Cameron LNG Phase 1’s three liquefaction trains have a combined capacity of 12 million tonnes/year (tpy). Cameron LNG has already shipped 58 LNG cargoes. 

Cameron LNG is jointly owned by affiliates of Sempra LNG, Total SA, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., and Japan LNG Investment LLC, a company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Corp. and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK). Sempra Energy indirectly owns 50.2% of Cameron LNG.

Sempra LNG is developing four other LNG export projects in North America, including Cameron LNG Phase 2, Port Arthur LNG in Texas, and Energía Costa Azul (ECA) LNG Phase 1 and Phase 2 in Baja California, Mexico.

Sempra Energy and Mitsui in 2019 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for development of Cameron LNG two-train Phase 2 and future expansion of ECA. The MOU included Mitsui’s purchase of up to one-third of Cameron Phase 2’s expected 10-million tpy capacity, as well as potential offtake of 1 million tpy of LNG and equity participation in a future expansion of ECA LNG (OGJ Online, Nov. 5, 2018).

ECA LNG is being developed with IEnova, Sempra’s subsidiary in Mexico. Phase 1 includes one liquefaction train with an export capacity of 2.4 million tpy. ECA LNG future expansion would include additional trains with an expected export capacity of 12 million tpy. Sempra expects to make a final investment decision (FID) on ECA LNG in second-quarter 2020.

Sempra Energy and Bechtel’s respective subsidiaries, Port Arthur LNG LLC and Bechtel Oil, Gas, and Chemicals Inc., in March 2020 signed a fixed-price engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the 13.5 million tpy Port Arthur LNG liquefaction plant. Bechtel will perform detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, performance testing, and operator training. The agreement also includes continuing pre-FID engineering.

Port Arthur LNG will include two liquefaction trains, two LNG storage tanks, a marine berth, and associated loading equipment. 

Sempra has delayed an expected third-quarter 2020 FID for Port Arthur LNG due to market conditions. The company has sales agreements in place for 70% of the plant’s output.