Energy giants QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil are still expecting to start LNG production at their Golden Pass LNG export terminal on the US Gulf Coast near Sabine Pass, Texas, in the first half of 2025.
State-owned QatarEnergy owns a 70 percent stake in the Golden Pass project with a capacity of more than 18 mtpa and will offtake 70 percent of the capacity, while US energy firm ExxonMobil has a 30 percent share.
A joint venture of Chiyoda, McDermott, and Zachry is building the tree Golden Pass trains worth about $10 billion next to the existing LNG import terminal.
“Train 1 mechanical completion is expected at the end of 2024 with first LNG in the first half of 2025,” Darren Woods, chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, said during the fourth-quarter earnings call on February 2.
Woods did not provide further information.
He confirmed an announcement in December by ExxonMobil’s senior VP and CFO, Kathryn Mikellss, during the company’s corporate plan that first LNG is expected in first half of 2025.
The partners previously expected to complete the first Golden Pass train in the first quarter of 2024.
The US FERC said in an inspection report in January this year that the anticipated in-service timing for the first Golden Pass train is the second half of 2024,with train 2 and 3 following after.
According to the report, the anticipated in-service timing for the pipeline expansion project is expected “sometime prior to the second half of 2024”.
Construction update
Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Golden Pass Pipeline also recently filed the latest construction report with the FERC.
The report said that Golden Pass and its contractors progressed installation of piping and steel in process and utilities areas and flare wall modifications, continued piping and vessels insulation activities, while concrete foundation pours continued in Train 2 and Train 3.
In addition, Golden Pass progressed setting various vessels on respective foundations and progressed brownfield tie-ins in Trains 2 and 3, and progressed brownfield tie-ins and LNG tank tops modifications scope.
Golden Pass also progressed cable tray installations and cable pulling activities and continued pipe pneumatic / hydrostatic testing program.
As per the pipeline expansion project, Golden Pass continued civil activities and concrete foundation pours at milepost MP33 and MP69 compressor stations and also continued pipe fabrication and installation at these stations.
It also continued construction activities of the Sabine Spur, Natural Gas Pipeline (NGPL)
Interconnect improvements, and associated facilities.