FERC on Wednesday approved for early environmental review Sempra Global’s proposal to construct facilities to liquefy natural gas for export and expand a pipeline that serves the existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Hackberry, LA.

Specifically, Sempra Global has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin the review process on the Cameron LNG Liquefaction Project and Cameron Interstate Pipeline LLC’s and Cameron LNG LLC’s planned expansion project.

“Cameron LNG plans to construct three liquefaction trains, capable of exporting a total of 12 million metric tons per year of LNG; a fourth 160,000 cubic-meter full containment storage tank; and additional facilities on land adjacent to the existing Cameron LNG terminal in Hackberry. The related pipeline project would add bi-directional flow capability to the existing Cameron Interstate Pipeline, allowing the pipeline to transport gas from various interstate pipeline interconnections to the LNG terminal for export, as well as sending out regasified LNG from the LNG terminal to the same pipeline interconnections,” Sempra told FERC [PF12-13].

As part of the pipeline project, Cameron plans to build a 66,0000 hp compressor station and 21 miles of 42-inch diameter pipeline in Cameron, Calcasieu and Beauregard Parishes. It plans to file its applications in December.

In January the Department of Energy approved Cameron LNG LLC’s application and it now has authorization to export 1.7 Bcf/d of gas to a limited number of countries that are party to a free trade agreement with the United States (see Daily GPI, Jan. 23).

So far FERC has only approved a liquefaction project proposed by Cheniere Energy units Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC and Sabine Pass LNG LP to export up to 2.2 Bcf/d of LNG (see Daily GPI, April 17). The project would be sited at Sabine Pass’ existing LNG terminal in Cameron Parish.

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