OREANDA-NEWS. Cheniere Energy on 27 May took over operations of the first liquefaction train at its Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Louisiana.

The Houston-based LNG terminal developer said it took over control of train 1 from contractor Bechtel after the commissioning process was finished and the "substantial completion" milestone was reached for the unit. New liquefaction trains are tested during the commissioning process to ensure they operate safely and produce LNG under the proper specifications.

Cheniere on 29 April told the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that "commissioning demonstration tests, which confirm the facilities an be operated safely and reliably have been successfully completed for train 1." Cheniere was not available to comment.

Cheniere on 29 April also asked FERC to authorize placing train 1 into long-term service, and FERC issued that approval on 3 May.

Cheniere exported seven test cargoes from train 1 from late February to late April, and this month long-term customer Shell loaded two cargoes from the facility.

Cheniere is building five liquefaction trains at Sabine Pass, each with baseload capacity of 4.5mn t/yr, equivalent to about 620mn ft3/d (17.5mn m3/d) of gas, and peak capacity of 5mn t/yr. Each train is expected to produce 4-10 test cargoes. Train 1 exported seven test cargoes, beginning in late February, before it was handed over to Cheniere this month.

The first test cargo from train 2 is expected in mid-August and the unit will be substantially completed in late September, Cheniere told FERC last week.