Cheniere advances plans to expand Sabine Pass LNG export capacity

Cheniere Energy Inc. subsidiaries are advancing plans to expand LNG exports from the Sabine Pass liquefaction project in Cameron Parish, La.

The Houston-based company has initiated the pre-filing review process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the proposed Sabine Pass Stage 5 Expansion Project adjacent to the existing Sabine Pass liquefaction project. No cost projections were disclosed.  

The proposal calls for production capacity expansion up to 20 million tonnes/year (tpy) of LNG via three large-scale 6.5 million tpy trains, a boil-off-gas re-liquefaction unit with production capacity of about 0.75 million tpy of LNG, and two 220,000 cu m LNG storage tanks.

Accommodations for waste heat recovery as well as carbon capture from acid gas removal units are also proposed.

The project is expected to benefit from existing infrastructure and contemplates enhancements to current capabilities, including optimized ship loading at the existing marine infrastructure, Cheniere said. Feed gas is expected to be transported via new and existing pipelines.

Cheniere has contracted Bechtel Energy Inc. to complete a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study.

Development of the expansion project, and any necessary supporting infrastructure, is subject regulatory approvals and permits, and sufficient commercial and financing arrangements before a final investment decision is reached.