Sempra Infrastructure said in a statement on Tuesday that the pipeline will support transportation of 2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) of U.S. natural gas to global markets by supplying gas to Port Arthur LNG Phase 1, which will have nameplate capacity of approximately 13 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) and is currently under construction.
Additionally, the pipeline strengthens domestic energy networks by interconnecting with Sempra Infrastructure’s Gillis Hub Pipeline, a highly connected natural gas pipeline header system in Southwest Louisiana’s energy corridor, the company said.
The pipeline also connects to Sempra Infrastructure’s LA Storage facility that is currently under construction to facilitate transportation to and from natural gas storage capacity along the Gulf Coast.
The Port Arthur Pipeline Louisiana Connector has capital expenditures of less than $1 billion and includes 72 miles (116 km) of 42-inch pipeline, a compressor station in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, and associated above and below-ground facilities.
“Through disciplined execution, the project was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget and is a testament to what our teams can achieve when we align around our shared mission of becoming North America’s leading energy infrastructure company,” said Justin Bird, CEO of Sempra Infrastructure.
Launch of first train in 2027
In March 2023, Sempra Infrastructure, in which Sempra is reducing its ownership to 25 percent, took a final investment decision on the first phase of its Port Arthur LNG export project worth about $13 billion.
Bechtel won the $10.5 billion EPC contract, which includes building two trains with a total capacity of about 13 mtpa and two storage tanks with a capacity of 160,000 cbm.
The expected commercial operation dates for train 1 and train 2 are 2027 and 2028, respectively.
In addition, Sempra Infrastructure took FID on the second phase of the Port Arthur LNG project last year.
Including the first 13 mtpa phase, the facility will have a total capacity of about 26 mtpa.
The expected commercial operation dates for Train 3 and Train 4 are 2030 and 2031, respectively.