Plaquemines LNG project is a 20 million tonne per annum (Mtpa) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility planned to be developed in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, US.
The $8.5bn project is being developed in two phases of 10Mtpa capacity each by Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Venture Global LNG.
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Plaquemines is the second LNG export project by Venture Global LNG, after the 10Mtpa Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility, which is being developed in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted final environmental approval for the 20Mtpa Plaquemines LNG export terminal in May 2019.
Construction on phase one of the project is expected to be started upon making the final investment decision (FID) by the end of 2019.
The first phase of the project is expected to be brought on stream by 2022, while ground-breaking on phase two is expected in 2020 and commissioning in 2023.
Plaquemines LNG project location and site details
The Plaquemines LNG export facility is planned to be developed on a 255ha-site on the west bank of the Mississippi River, approximately 32km south of the Port of New Orleans. The project site features approximately 2km of river frontage.
Plaquemines LNG plant details
The Plaquemines LNG plant will consist of a total of 18 liquefaction blocks and six pretreatment facilities, with each phase comprising nine liquefaction blocks and three pretreatment facilities.
With an individual capacity of 1.2Mtpa, each liquefaction block of the facility will comprise two modular single mixed refrigerant (SMR) LNG trains of 0.626Mtpa nameplate capacity each.
The LNG trains will be equipped with dehydration units, hydrogen sulfide removal units, compressor skids, and acid gas removal units.
The Plaquemines LNG terminal will house a total of four on-ground, full-containment-type LNG storage tanks with a capacity of 200,000m³ each.
The LNG storage tanks will be tied to the liquefaction blocks and berthing docks, through cryogenic pipeline connections.
Infrastructure facilities
The marine facility for the Plaquemines LNG export terminal will comprise up to three marine loading berths for transferring LNG into tank ships with up to 185,000m³ capacity, and a utility dock on the Mississippi River for equipment and material supplies during both construction and operational phases.
Two marine loading berths are planned for the phase one operations, while the third one is expected to be built in the second phase of the project.
Each phase of the project will use an on-site 611MW combined-cycle gas-fired power facility, as well as a 25MW aero-derivate gas turbine for start-up and peaking needs. Each combined-cycle plant will comprise five gas turbines and two steam turbines.
Electricity supply during the construction phase of the terminal will be facilitated by a new tie-in to the nearby existing transmission line operated by Energy Louisiana.
The water required for the facility will be sourced through a new 1,500ft-long pipeline connecting the Plaquemines Parish Water Works’ existing pipeline system.
Feed gas supply
Natural gas for the liquefaction project will be sourced through new gas pipelines to be built as part of the Gator Express Pipeline project, which is also proposed to be undertaken by Venture Global LNG.
The Gator Express pipeline project will comprise two 42in-diameter gas pipelines along with two metering and regulation stations, two pig receivers, and six mainline valves.
The Gator Express pipeline will be connected to the existing transmission pipeline systems of the Southwest Lateral Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) and the Southwest Lateral Texas Eastern Transmission (TETCO).
The first phase of the Plaquemines LNG project will involve a 24.3km-long pipeline segment connecting the TGP and an 18.8km-long segment linked to the TETCO pipeline system. A 17.7km-long pipeline connection with the Southwest Lateral TETCO is planned to be developed for the second phase of the LNG project.
LNG off-take
Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) will purchase 1Mtpa of LNG from the Plaquemines export terminal, under a 20-year gas sales and purchase binding agreement signed in October 2018.
