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Cheniere’s Corpus Christi liquefaction plant now has three operational trains, each with a capacity of about 5 mtpa.
In June 2022, Cheniere made the final investment decision on the Corpus Christi Stage 3 expansion project, worth about $8 billion. Compatriot Bechtel officially started construction on the project in October of the same year.
The project includes building seven midscale trains, each with an expected liquefaction capacity of about 1.49 mtpa.
Cheniere’s unit, Corpus Christi Liquefaction, said in the August construction report filed with the US FERC on Monday that the overall project completion rate for Stage 3 is 65.9 percent.
The project was 64 percent complete as of the end of July.
Stage 3 engineering and procurement are 95.1 percent and 82.5 percent complete, respectively, while subcontract and direct hire construction work are 86.7 percent and 30.3 percent complete, respectively.
During August, key work fronts included aboveground piping in train 1 and outside boundary limits (OSBL), concrete pours in trains 2 – 6 and structural steel erection in trains 2 – 4 and OSBL, underground piping installation in trains 4 – 7 and OSBL, and equipment setting in trains 1 – 6.
Additional continued work includes road improvements, drainage work, and mobilization of temporary facilities, equipment, and personnel, CCL said.
Moreover, Bechtel continued testing and installing aboveground piping and pipe spools on train 1.
During September, Bechtel will continue this work at the first train and also start loop checks for mixed refrigerant compressors.
First LNG production
Cheniere initially said that LNG deliveries from the expansion project were expected to begin in 2025 with full production in 2027.
However, Cheniere’s CEO Jack Fusco said in August last year that the company is expecting to complete the expansion phase ahead of schedule.
The company confirmed in its second quarter report that it expects to achieve first LNG production from the first train at the end of 2024.
Also, the company said it expects first gas into the first train 1 in about 2 months.
Substantial completion of the project is expected during 1H 2025 – 2H 2026.
In addition to this expansion, Cheniere plans to build two more liquefaction trains as part of the third expansion phase at the Corpus Christi plant.
Cheniere aims to take a final investment decision on this project in 2025.
Also, Cheniere aims to build two new liquefaction trains as part of the Sabine Pass Stage 5 expansion project to add up to 20 mtpa of capacity to the giant 30 mtpa facility.