US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has joined forces with compatriot energy services firm Baker Hughes to increase its production capacity from 70 million tonnes per annum to more than 100 Mtpa.
To support Venture Global’s expansion plan, the two firms have executed an expanded master equipment supply agreement for the delivery of additional liquefaction train systems and also power island systems for Venture Global’s future LNG export projects.
The expanded agreement was announced on the margins of Gastech in Singapore in the presence of Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel and Baker Hughes chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli.
“Venture Global is thrilled to announce our long-term plan to expand LNG production both in and outside of Louisiana, building on the momentum of our first three projects – Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines LNG, and CP2 LNG,” Sabel said.
“We are grateful for our continued partnership with Baker Hughes, a world leader in energy technology, and look forward to building on our successful collaboration in our upcoming projects,” he said.
Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines LNG
Venture Global’s 10 mtpa Calcasieu Pass LNG plant in Louisiana produced its first LNG on January 19, 2022, moving from FID to LNG production in 29 months, and the first commissioning cargo left the facility on March 1.
The US firm has not yet declared commercial operations at the facility.
Venture Global LNG said in the statement that cargoes originating from its Calcasieu Pass LNG project have been delivered to 24 countries and accounted for about 10 percent of the LNG exported from the US to Europe in 2022 and 2023.
On the other hand, Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana has recently received its first liquefaction modules.
Baker Hughes ships these modular units to the US from its manufacturing facility in Italy, the same as the firm did for Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass project.
In May last year, Venture Global took a final investment decision on the first phase of the project and the related pipeline.
Earlier this year, the firm sanctioned the second phase of the Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana. Both phases have a capacity of 20 Mtpa.
Venture Global said that the Plaquemines LNG plant is on target to produce first LNG in 2024.
By early September, Plaquemines LNG will have received the first four liquefaction train modules (Blocks 1 and 2) and the roof will be raised on its third LNG storage tank, it said.
Venture Global to start CP2 LNG construction
Venture Global also confirmed that it expects to start construction of its CP2 LNG facility later this year following receipt of FERC authorization.
To date, 9.25 Mtpa of CP2 LNG’s 20.0 Mtpa nameplate capacity has been sold under 20-year sales and purchase agreements, Venture Global said.
Venture Global recently signed a sales and purchase deal with German gas importer Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE).
Moreover, SEFE joins other CP2 LNG customers, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Jera, New Fortress Energy, Inpex, China Gas, and EnBW.
The CP2 LNG plant will be located next to Venture Global’s existing Calcasieu Pass liquefaction plant in Louisiana.
It will have 18 liquefaction blocks, each with a capacity of about 1.1 Mtpa of LNG, but also four 200,000-cbm full containment LNG storage tanks.
Besides these three projects, Venture Global is also developing the Delta LNG export facility with a nameplate capacity of 20 Mtpa in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
It previously said the facility may be constructed in two phases, each consisting of 10 Mtpa.