Cheniere requests NEPA prefiling for Corpus Christi LNG expansion

Cheniere Energy Inc. has requested that the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) begin its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) prefiling review for two additional midscale trains at the company’s 15-million tonne/year (tpy) Corpus Christi Liquefaction (CCL) plant in Corpus Christi, Tex. FERC had previously approved CCL Stage 3, consisting of as many as seven midscale trains which would add 10 million tpy to the plant’s capacity. The most recent request would add an eighth and ninth train to the expansion.

Newly proposed work would also include a 220,000-cu m storage tank, adding to the three 160,000-cu m tanks already operating at CCL. Feed gas for the new trains would be supplied in part by Cheniere’s 2.75-bcfd, 48-in. OD Corpus Christi Pipeline.

CCL uses two berths for loading LNG carriers, with a current combined authorized loading rate of 12,000-cu m/hr. The new prefiling request proposes increasing this rate to 22,500 cu m/hr, which would allow for simultaneous loading at both jetties. CCL also proposed increasing the maximum single-jetty rate to 14,000 cu m/hr.

The company anticipates filing a formal project application with FERC in February 2023, beginning construction in August 2024 (pending FERC approval), and placing the 1.64-million tonne/year Trains 8 and 9 in service second-half 2031. Cheniere describes the two new trains as “near replicates” of those approved by FERC as part of CCL Stage 3.

Cheniere took final investment decision on CCL Stage 3 earlier this year, issuing full notice to proceed with construction to Bechtel Corp., which had already begun work under a limited notice (OGJ Online, June 22, 2022).