Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc. is asking FERC for authorization to introduce feed gas and refrigerants to continue its commissioning activities for Train 5 at the Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Cameron Parish, LA.

“Specifically, Sabine Pass is requesting authorization to conduct commissioning activities associated with phases 3-5 of the commissioning plan provided on March 2, 2018,” the company said Monday in a filing at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [CP13-552]. “Sabine Pass is requesting authorization at the earliest time possible, but no later than Sept. 6, 2018, in order to remain on schedule.”

In April FERC approved a Cheniere request to introduce fuel gas to commission gas turbine generators at Sabine Pass, activities associated with phases 2-3 of the commissioning plan submitted in March as part of the facility’s expansion plan.

The Sabine Pass LNG terminal began exporting gas in February 2016 and was the first U.S. facility to export LNG sourced from domestically produced supply in the Lower 48. In March the second such facility came online when FERC granted permission for Dominion Energy to begin commercial service for the Cove Point LNG export facility on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

FERC in 2015 approved the expansion (Trains 5 and 6) of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. The addition of the two trains would increase terminal export capacity from about 20 million metric tons/year (mmty) to about 29 mmty, or the equivalent of about 4.14 Bcf/d.

Earlier this month FERC issued Cheniere authorization to allow feed gas to begin at Train 1 of the Corpus Christi Liquefaction LLC, the first planned export project in Texas, signaling that the terminal could produce the first commissioning cargo before year’s end [No. CP12-507].