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According to a FERC filing dated July 17, Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage IV, Corpus Christi Liquefaction, and Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline are requesting that the regulator initiates the Commission’s National Environmental Policy Act pre-filing review of the proposed expansion of the existing LNG terminal in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas, and an associated interstate natural gas pipeline expansion in San Patricio County, Texas.
Cheniere’s Corpus Christi liquefaction terminal consists of three trains, each with a capacity of about five mtpa.
The US LNG exporter is also building the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, which includes seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa.
In addition, Cheniere recently made a positive final investment decision to build two more midscale trains at its Corpus Christi LNG plant.
Upon completion of the project, and together with expected debottlenecking and CCL Stage 3, the Corpus Christi LNG terminal is expected to reach over 30 mtpa in total liquefaction capacity later this decade.
Besides these expansions, Cheniere revealed in June the CCL Stage IV expansion project with a capacity as it plans to boost its export capacity to 100 mtpa via new expansion projects at its Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi LNG terminals.
24 mtpa
Cheniere’s units said in the filing that the proposed Stage 4 expansion consists of the addition of four large-scale liquefaction trains, two full-containment 220,000-cbm LNG storage tanks, a marine berth, and other infrastructure.
The trains will have a peak production capacity of approximately 24 mtpa of LNG.
The proposed pipeline expansion consists of the addition of an associated 26-mile-long 42-inch diameter interstate natural gas pipeline loop (that would be partially collocated with CCPL’s existing 48-inch diameter pipeline), as well as additional compression and interconnect facilities.
Moreover, the Corpus Christi Pipeline expansion project is proposed to provide additional feed gas to the terminal and the CCL Stage 4 project, from CCPL’s new Sinton 2 compressor station.
The CCL Stage 4 project facilities are proposed to be located on property southeast of the city of Gregory, Texas within an industrial area immediately east of the existing CCL terminal.
Second half of 2035
Cheneire’s units will prepare draft resource reports for review and comment by the Commission Staff at least 90 days prior to filing a formal application.
“The applicants anticipate filing their formal application pursuant to Sections 3 and 7(c) of the NGA in the first quarter of 2026 and will respectfully request that the Commission issue its authorizations of the projects no later than the second quarter of 2027,” they said.
According to the filing, Cheniere’s units anticipate, after receiving all required approvals, to start construction in the third quarter of 2’27.
The full project in-service is targeted for the second half of 2035.