Sabine Pass LNG to soon export sixth cargo

OREANDA-NEWS. April 13, 2016. The Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana will soon export its sixth test cargo.

The Creole Spirit LNG vessel, which has capacity of 174,000m?, equivalent to about 3.6 Bcf (102mn m?) of gas, was moored near the terminal today, according to shipping records.

The Creole Spirit is the world's first M-type, electronically controlled gas-injection (MEGI) vessel. MEGI vessels are designed to be more efficient than standard vessels in using bunker fuel, reducing transportation costs.

Shipping company Teekay in late 2012 ordered two MEGI vessels, which are both under five-year charters to Sabine Pass LNG owner Cheniere Energy. The second vessel, the Oak Spirit, is scheduled to begin its charter in the third quarter.

The first liquefaction train at Sabine Pass is expected export six to eight commissioning cargoes before contractor Bechtel is scheduled to turn over operations of the unit to Cheniere in May. Its first cargo was exported in February.

Cheniere is building five liquefaction trains at Sabine Pass, each with baseload capacity of 4.5mn t/yr, equivalent to about 620mn cf/d of gas, and peak capacity of 5mn t/yr. Cheniere expects to take over operations of train 2 in August and trains 3-4 about six months after the respective previous train. The contractually guaranteed completion date for train 5 is December 2019.

Gas flow to Sabine Pass has averaged 631mn cf/d this month, 60pc more than the March average of 393mn cf/d.

Of the first five cargoes, two went to Brazil, two are going to Asia and the other to Argentina.